GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay (18-9, 4-3) softball team split a double-header in its conference home opener against Loyola (14-15, 6-5) Wednesday afternoon.

In game one the Ramblers struck first with two outs, taking a 1-0 lead off a wild pitch by Katie Cooney (East Moline, Ill.). Green Bay answered with two outs in the bottom of the inning when Cooney hit one deep in right center field scoring Sara Junion (Sevastopol, Wis.) to tie the game 1-1.

Loyola scored two more runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead before Green Bay got the bats rolling in the fifth and sixth innings. Freshman Danielle Peerenboom (Kimberly, Wis.) led off the fifth with a solo homerun to center field and in the process set and individual season record for home runs (6).

After Loyola went three up three down in the top of the sixth, Peerenboom hit an RBI triple to right center field scoring Jessica Hrncar (Bristol, Wis.), Junion and Ashleigh Racer (Waterford, Wis.) giving Green Bay the 5-3 lead for good. With two outs Kendra Woepse (Manitowoc, Wis.) hit a blast to left center field scoring Peerenboom to seal the 6-3 win.

Cooney pitched her fourth complete game of the season striking out four batters and allowing three runs off five hits while improving to 5-5 from the mound. Meanwhile Peerenboom led the Phoenix from behind the plate with four RBIs off two hits and three at-bats.

Game two had a different outcome for the Phoenix as freshman pitcher Lauren Beres (New Berlin, Wis.) allowed two runs off seven hits in six innings pitched.

With two outs in the top of the third the Ramblers scored on a wild pitch to put a run on the board (1-0). The bats were quiet until the sixth inning when Loyola's Angie Funston hit a solo homerun to centerfield to boost the Ramblers' lead 2-0.

Green Bay answered in the bottom of the inning with two outs when Peerenboom hit her second homerun of the day to centerfield to put the Phoenix on the board (2-1). Peerenboom's homerun was her seventh of the season and the fourth consecutive game she has landed one over the fence.

Loyola added another run in the top of the seventh with two outs on an RBI double to seal the 3-1 victory.

Beres takes the loss from the mound (6-2) while Green Bay had six hits and one RBI from the plate. The three-game series will conclude Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at Ben Garot Field.