ST. LOUIS – Victoria Klimaszewski hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning on Saturday, helping lift No. 4 seed Fordham to a 7-4 victory over top-seeded Loyola Chicago to capture the 2026 Betterment Atlantic 10 Softball Championship. The win marked Fordham’s 10^th softball title in the league, and first since 2022.

After a pair of scoreless innings, Fordham took the first lead of the afternoon on Nicki Sudall’s RBI double down the right field line. Loyola Chicago answered back in the bottom half of the third, tying the game 1-1 with an RBI double from sophomore Averi Vander Woude.

Getting the start on the mound for Loyola, Anna Kiel stepped up at the plate as well – hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning to give the Ramblers a 2-1 advantage. Fordham retook the lead in the fifth, capitalizing on an error to score three unearned runs.

Nat Lesnicki and Alli Pawlowicz contributed RBI singles in the bottom half of the inning for Loyola, tying the game 4-4. Klimaszewski gave Fordham the lead for good in the sixth inning, drilling a two-run homer to left field to give the Rams a 6-4 lead.

Sadira Forcucci added an insurance run for Fordham with a solo home run in the seventh inning. Loyola Chicago continued to fight, loading the bases in the final frame to bring the potential go-ahead run to the plate. Fordham sophomore Elizabeth Gaisior forced a popout, though, earning the save and clinching the title for the Rams.

Klimaszewski, who hit two home runs over the course of the week and racked up eight RBIs, received the Most Outstanding Player award.
The Rams secured the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. They will find out their regional destination during the NCAA Selection Show, slated for Sunday, May 10 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
 
All-Championship Team
Hayden Baird, Dayton
Deirdre Flaherty, Dayton
Holly Beeman, Fordham
Victoria Klimaszewski, Fordham (Most Outstanding Player)
Kate McGuire, Fordham
Neleh Nogay, Fordham
Anna Kiel, Loyola Chicago
Sierra Sass, Loyola Chicago
Liz Sedakis, Loyola Chicago
Averi Vander Woude, Loyola Chicago
Grace Brown, Saint Joseph’s