Loyola slips past Valparaiso 10-9 in eight in Horizon League Softball Championship

Release Horizon League · @HorizonLeague · May 8, 2009

PENDLETON, Ind. - Jenna Grim's bases-loaded single in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted Loyola University Chicago to a homerun-filled 10-9 walk-off victory over Valparaiso University Friday in the consolation bracket of the Horizon League Softball Championship at Legends Field in Pendleton, Ind.

With the victory, Loyola eliminated the Crusaders and advances to face the winner of tonight's Butler University-University of Wisconsin-Green Bay game Saturday at 9 a.m. ET.

After allowing Valparaiso to tie the game 9-9 in the top of the seventh inning, the Ramblers charged back in the extra frame. Alexandra Trudnich led off with a single, move to second on a sacrifice bunt and took third on a wild pitch. Two intentional walks later, Grimm rocketed a grounder past Valpo shortstop Joylynn Ichiyama for the game-winning run.

Loyola also had mounted an earlier comeback, scoring four runs in the sixth to go up 9-8, in the back-and-forth affair. Valpo scored twice in the top of the first, only to see Loyola tally three in the bottom of the inning. The Crusaders went up 6-4 in the top of the fifth and then 8-5 before the Ramblers' rally in the sixth.

Krista Crosson (13-8) earned the victory with five innings in relief. Stephanie Kelly (8-10) suffered the loss.

Loyola set a tournament record with five home runs, breaking the four hit three times, most recently by Youngstown State University in 2006. The seven combined longballs also set a championship record.

Tags: Loyola - Softball · Valparaiso - Softball

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