Softball Rallies for 4-3 Win Over Loyola at Horizon League Tournament

Thursday, May 8

Chicago, IL (Loyola)

9:00 PM

Wright State University

30-24

Loyola

19-24-1

Loyola

Wright State

Softball Rallies for 4-3 Win Over Loyola at Horizon League Tournament

5/8/2008 12:00:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: WSU Athletic Media Relations

After managing just one hit and three baserunners through six innings, the Wright State offense came alive in the seventh as the Raiders scored four times to pull out a dramatic 4-3 win over Loyola in winner's bracket quarterfinal action of the Horizon League Softball Tournament Thursday night at the Loyola Softball Park in Chicago.

Loyola (19-24-1) took advantage of two infield hits and two Raider errors in the first in scoring three times and that looked to be all that the Ramblers would need as Amy Solava held Wright State to just three baserunners over the first six innings. Solava walked Jherica Williams in the first and Jamie Perkins in the sixth and gave up a single up the middle to Louie Haney in the fourth.

In the seventh, though, the Raiders would come alive. Williams led off by chopping a pitch off the plate towards third for an infield single and after Kristen Bradshaw reached on an error, Justine Shilt walked to load the bases. One out later, Allison Cox hit a smash by Angie Funston at third to plate Williams and Bradshaw and make it 3-2.

Pinch-runners Michelle Logan and Malerie Klingler each advanced a base on a wild pitch and following a walk to Mollie Berry, Briauna Birl delivered the game-winner, a single up the middle past Rambler second baseman Bridget Lally to drive in Logan and Klingler.

Sharon Palma (15-9) picked up the win as she scattered eight hits and allowed just one earned run while striking out six. Solava (13-14) was the tough-luck loser despite eight strikeouts.

Wright State, now 30-24 on the season, takes on UIC in the winner's bracket semifinals on Friday at 2:00 Eastern. Should the Raiders win, they will face #1 seed Cleveland State in the winner's bracket final Friday night at 9:00. If WSU loses, they would play in the loser's bracket semifinals Saturday at noon.