May 13, 2006

Box Score

CANFIELD, Ohio - Nora Schober went 2 for 2 and drove in three runs to establish a record for RBI at the Horizon League Championship, but it wasn't enough as second-seeded Cleveland State (38-14) knocked Loyola University Chicago (20-41) out of the tournament with a 5-4 decision tonight at McCune Park. Schober drove in 10 runs in four games this weekend and finished the season with 43 total RBI, just one shy of the Loyola single-season record.

Tara Miller and Lindsay O'Gean led off the game with consecutive singles for the Ramblers, setting the stage for Schober, who walloped a home run to straightaway center, which chased Cleveland State starter Kortney Spidell and gave LU a 3-0 lead.

The Vikings answered back with four runs, three of which were unearned, in the bottom of the second inning to take a 4-3 lead. Michelle Penney's two-run single provided the big blow for Cleveland State.

Loyola would come charging back in the third inning and again Schober was in the middle of things. The junior outfielder doubled, then stolen third and scored on catcher J.J. Thornberry's errant throw to even the contest at 4-4.

The game remained that way until the sixth inning when the Vikings mounted a final rally and took the lead for good on Grace Luginbuhl's sacrifice fly that scored Whitney Willard. Loyola made one last surge in the top of the seventh, as Trish Oberhaus led off the inning by reaching on an error. Pinch runner Courtney Sullivan advanced to second on a groundout, but Luginbuhl was able to strand Sullivan there and preserve the lead for CSU.

Loyola established several school records, both team and individual this season, and loses only one senior, Oberhaus, from this year's squad. Cleveland State moves on to face UIC in an elimination game Saturday morning. The winner of that contest faces Youngstown State for the Horizon League Championship title.