May 12, 2006
Box Score
CANFIELD, Ohio - Nora Schober hit a grand slam and drove in six runs to power Loyola University Chicago (20-40) to a 9-7 victory over Wright State (7-41) this afternoon in Horizon League Championship action at McCune Park. With the loss, Wright State is eliminated, while the Ramblers advance to play the winner of the Cleveland State - UW-Green Bay game.
Schober's six RBI fell one shy of the Horizon League Championship single-game record set by Jacquelyn Vaca of UIC in 2001, but increased her season total to 40, the second-highest mark in Loyola single-season history. The victory gives Loyola at least 20 wins for the seventh time in the last eight seasons.
The Ramblers drew first blood, scoring three runs in the first inning Schober's double to center scored Tara Miller and Lindsay O'Gean to put Loyola on top, 2-0. Caitlin Krupinski's infield single two outs later plated Schober to give LU a 3-0 advantage.
Wright State cut the Loyola lead to a single run (3-2) with tallies in the second and third innings, but the Ramblers appeared to put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fourth, scoring five times to open up an 8-2 advantage. O'Gean singled home a run before Schober clubbed a grand slam over the fence in left field to cap the five-run inning.
The Raiders chipped away, scoring a run in the fifth thanks to a solo home run by Melanie McInally, then, after Loyola got a run back in the bottom of the inning, made things interesting courtesy of a grand slam off the bat of Amanda Cody. Cody's blast, which hit the scoreboard in right center field, cut Loyola's lead to 9-7.
Winning pitcher Laura DeLeon, was able to work her way out of a potential jam in the Raiders' half of the seventh, getting Kristen Farley to ground into a double play to end the threat, before striking out Bridget Henry to end the game.
DeLeon allowed only one earned run and struck out five in 5.1 innings of work en route to her 11th victory of the season. Loyola's offense was potent again, pounding out 10 hits, six of which came from the top three hitters in the order.
Schober went 2 for 4 with a double, home run and six RBI, while Miller, O'Gean and Raven Gengler also notched two hits apiece. With seven RBI this weekend alone, Schober needs one more RBI to equal the Horizon League Championship record for an entire tournament. Miller reached base in each of her four plate appearances, as she recorded a single, double and was intentionally walked on a pair of occasions.
Loyola will face the winner of the Cleveland State - UW-Green Bay game tonight at approximately 10:00 p.m. Eastern.
