CHICAGO – The St. Bonaventure University softball team dropped a three-game Atlantic 10 series on the road at Loyola Chicago Saturday and Sunday.
The Ramblers posted a pair of shutouts Saturday, taking games one and two with a 4-0 result. Loyola Chicago completed the sweep with a 5-1 win Sunday afternoon.
Game 1 – Loyola Chicago 4, St. Bonaventure 0
The Bonnies looked to get on the board first, loading the bases in the top of the first, but Loyola Chicago starter Payton Pepkowski was able to work out of the jam.
The Ramblers broke through on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third, opening the scoring with an RBI double off the bat of Haley Wallace.
Loyola Chicago tacked on two more runs in the inning with a two-run home run from Sydney Barnett, giving the hosts a 3-0 lead after three.
The Ramblers tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, earning the victory.
Pepkowski finished the contest with 17 strikeouts, allowing just two hits and walking three.
Emily Phelan earned the start for the Bonnies, scattering six hits and striking out three.
Game 2 – Loyola Chicago 4, St. Bonaventure 0
The Ramblers got a dominate pitching performance from Andie Broniewicz in game two as she tossed a no-hitter, striking out five and walking just two.
Loyola Chicago grabbed the lead in the bottom of the second, scoring on an error before plating two more runs on a single and a walk in the bottom half of the third.
A safety squeeze gave the hosts a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth and that is all that Broniewicz needed.
Kendall Stull tossed five innings for the Bonnies while Tori McGraw worked an inning in relief.
Game 3 – Loyola Chicago 5, St. Bonaventure 1
The Ramblers got on the board first in the series finale, scoring a pair of runs on a triple and a fielder's choice in the bottom of the third.
The Bonnies pulled one back in the top of the fifth when Brooke Bobbey doubled home Kennedy Haberl from third, cutting the deficit in half.
Loyola Chicago, however, answered with two runs on a single and a wild pitch in the bottom half of the fifth to push its lead to three late in the contest.
An error in the bottom of the sixth allowed a fifth Rambler run to score, clinching the three-game sweep.
Olivia Whitecar also doubled for the Bonnies Sunday.
Kylie Bickert, Phelan and McGraw combined to allow just six hits and struck out six.
The Bonnies are back in action Wednesday, April 17 when they travel to Dayton for a midweek Atlantic 10 doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 2:00 p.m.
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