LEADING OFF
Loyola Chicago softball opens its 2026 slate this weekend in San Diego, Calif. at the SDSU Season Kickoff, hosted by San Diego State. The Ramblers face four opponents over three days, including a Southeastern Conference (SEC) and a Big Ten matchup.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE (All times listed in CT)
- Friday, Feb. 6 vs. Kentucky - 4 p.m. | at SDSU – 10 p.m.
- Saturday, Feb. 7 vs. Minnesota – 1:30 p.m. | vs. Kentucky – 6:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Feb. 8 vs. Miami (OH) - 11 a.m.
QUICK HITS
- Last season, the Ramblers went 19-34 overall and 14-12 in Atlantic 10 play, earning them the sixth seed in the team's third consecutive appearance in the conference tournament.
- Among returners, sophomore Alli Pawlowicz earned a spot on the A-10 All-Rookie Team. Pawlowicz finished her freshman campaign with 33 hits, 23 RBI, 22 runs, a team-high seven home runs and a .481 slugging percentage.
- Senior outfielder Sierra Sass leads the returners in batting average (.326), at bats (138), hits (45) and stolen bases (22). Junior Nat Lesnicki led the 2025 squad with 17 walks.
- Sophomore outfielder Averi Vander Woude capped her rookie season with a perfect fielding percentage. Junior infielder Skyler Croker recorded a .976 fielding percentage at first base and made a team best seven double plays.
- Loyola returned 13 letterwinners and welcomed eight newcomers, including six true freshmen and two transfer students.
- Head coach Alicia Abbott enters her seventh season at the helm of the program, sporting a 117-149 career record. She secured her 100th career win early last year against St. John's (Feb. 14, 2025).
SCOUTING REPORT
Last season, Kentucky finished 31-28 overall and 7-17 in league play. The Wildcats fell in the opening round of the SEC Tournament but still earned an NCAA Tournament bid where they went 2-2 at the Clemson Regional, eventually falling to the host team.
San Diego State was picked to finish third in the Mountain West Preseason Poll after going 38-19 overall and 16-6 in conference action last year. The Aztecs celebrated their third straight Mountain West Tournament title in 2025, winning four consecutive games to do so. San Diego State went 1-3 in their NCAA Regional.
Minnesota went 20-30 overall and 5-17 in Big Ten matchups last season. Three Gophers were named to the Big Ten Softball Players to Watch list, announced at the end of January: a pair of sophomores, catcher Cameron Chard and infielder Tinley Easton, and senior pitcher/infielder Sydney Schwartz.
After winning their fourth straight MAC Tournament Championship, the Redhawks were picked to finish first in the league's preseason poll and are a tournament champion favorite. Miami (OH) went 36-26 overall and 20-7 in MAC play. The squad earned an NCAA Regional bid where they defeated North Carolina before getting knocked out by Ohio State.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Stream Loyola at San Diego State for free on GoAtzecs.com. Tune into the live stats and follow Loyola on Instagram and X/Twitter @RamblersSB for in-game updates.
