Loyola Ramblers softball

The Loyola Ramblers softball team represents Loyola University Chicago in the NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10). From 1987 until 2013, the team was a member of the Horizon League (HL).[2] From 2014 until 2021, the team was a member of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC).[3] The Ramblers are currently led by head coach Alicia Abbott. The team plays its home games at Loyola Softball Park located on the university's campus.[4]

Loyola Ramblers
UniversityLoyola University Chicago
Head coachAlicia Abbott (5th season)
ConferenceAtlantic 10
LocationChicago, IL
Home stadiumLoyola Softball Park
NicknameRamblers
ColorsMaroon and gold[1]
   
Regular Season Conference championships
2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2013

History

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The Ramblers, despite winning the Horizon League regular season championship six times, have failed to win a conference tournament championship or qualify for the NCAA Division I softball tournament.[5]

Since forming a team in 1987, Loyola Chicago has won several different awards across conferences. The Ramblers won four Horizon League Coach of the Year awards, winning in 1993 with Terri Laux, 2001 with Stephenie Henderson, 2007 with Yvette Healy, and in 2011 with Missy Beseres-Dow. The team also won four HL Pitcher of the Year awards, winning in 2002 with Sarah Smith, in 2004 with Lindsey LaChiana, in 2007 with Amy Solava, and in 2012 with Brittany Gardner. Smith and LaChiana both shared their awards with UIC's Alison Aguilar in each respective season.[6][7] In 2014, Gardner was named Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year, earning the unique achievement of being named Pitcher of the Year in two different conferences across her career.[8][9]

On April 20, 2013, it was announced that Loyola Chicago would be switching conferences, joining the Missouri Valley Conference after 27 years in the Horizon League.[10] After a period of success in collegiate sports as a whole, it was announced on November 16, 2021, that the Ramblers would switch conferences again, this time joining the Atlantic 10 Conference.[11][12]

Coaching history

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YearsCoachRecord%
1987–1996Terri Laux159–279.363
1997–1999Jon Cohn51–95.349
2000–2002Stephenie Henderson69–68.504
2003–2004Jamie Gillies64–52.552
2005–2010Yvette Healy131–172–1.433
2011–2014Missy Beseres-Dow105–99.515
2015–2019Jeff Tylka111–141.440
2020–presentAlicia Abbott69–92.429

Roster

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2024 Loyola Ramblers roster
 

Pitchers

  • 16 – Andie Broniewicz – Junior
  • 6 – Bailey Johnson – Senior
  • 25 – Peyton Pepkowski – Junior

Catchers

  • 51 – Abbie Gregus – Sophomore

Outfielders

  • 15 – Katie Mitchell – Freshman
  • 14 – Riley Owens – Junior
  • 4 – Sophia Remsik – Senior
  • 2 – Sierra Sass – Sophomore
  • 13 – Teagan Sopczak – Senior
 

Infielders

  • 21 – Sydney Barnett – Junior
  • 5 – Bella Crimaldi – Junior
  • 9 – Skyler Croker – Freshman
  • 8 – Jocelyn Currie – Junior
  • 12 – Nat Lesnicki – Freshman
  • 23 – Hannah Nalley – Junior
  • 10 – Liz Sedakis – Freshman
  • 11 – Haley Wallace – Sophomore

Utility

  • 3 – Ava Bieneman – Junior
  • 19 – Maddy Hickey – Freshman
 
Reference:[13]

Season by season results

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Statistics overview
SeasonCoachOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Loyola Ramblers (Horizon League) (1987–2013)
1987Terri Laux8–215th
1988Terri Laux13–234th
1989Terri Laux4–427th
1990Terri Laux2–280–87th
1991Terri Laux12–333–96th
1992Terri Laux22–266–43rd
1993Terri Laux21–298–43rd
1994Terri Laux30–197–32nd
1995Terri Laux31–2011–7T–4th
1996Terri Laux16–386–8T–3rd
1997Jon Cohn16–344–10T–5th
1998Jon Cohn12–294–85th
1999Jon Cohn23–328–4T–2nd
2000Stephenie Henderson25–218–43rd
2001Stephenie Henderson20–2310–21st
2002Stephenie Henderson24–2412–2T–1st
2003Jamie Gillies33–2316–51st
2004Jamie Gillies31–2914–73rd
2005Yvette Healy18–378–94th
2006Yvette Healy20–4110–10T–4th
2007Yvette Healy21–2114–51st
2008Yvette Healy22–25–112–74th
2009Yvette Healy28–2414–104th
2010Yvette Healy22–2410–127th
2011Missy Beseres-Dow26–2616–71st
2012Missy Beseres-Dow26–2315–82nd
2013Missy Beseres-Dow28–1916–5T–1st


Loyola Ramblers (Missouri Valley Conference) (2014–2022)
2014Missy Beseres-Dow25–3111–157th
2015Jeff Tylka15–355–219th
2016Jeff Tylka21–285–1910th
2017Jeff Tylka27–269–178th
2018Jeff Tylka23–279–169th
2019Jeff Tylka25–259–16T–7th
2020Alicia Abbott12–90–0N/A

Season cut short due to COVID-19 Pandemic

2021Alicia Abbott13–208–169th
2022Alicia Abbott16–319–18T–8th


Loyola Ramblers (Atlantic 10 Conference) (2023–present)
2023Alicia Abbott28–2319–62nd
2024Alicia Abbott0–00–0
Total:759–998–1 (.432)

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

[7][14][15]

See also

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References

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