May 5, 2008

CHICAGO - Fourth-seeded Loyola University Chicago (18-23-1, 12-7 Horizon) will host No. 9 seed Detroit (11-26, 4-13 Horizon) in the first round of the Horizon League Softball Championship on May 8 at 1 p.m. All games in the League Championship will be played at Loyola Softball Park, May 8-10. The Ramblers are the No. 4 seed for the first time since 2005 and are hosting the tournament for the first time since 2001.

In other opening-day action on May 8 at Loyola Softball Park, No. 6 Green Bay (10-23, 4-9 Horizon) takes on No. 7 Butler (16-27, 5-12 Horizon) at 9 a.m., and No. 5 UIC (22-31, 12-9 Horizon) faces No. 8 Youngstown State (12-35, 6-16 Horizon) at 11 a.m.

The top three seeds receive first-round byes in a new format this season thanks to the addition of Valparaiso as a League member. Top-seeded Cleveland State (29-16, 14-4 Horizon) will meet the winner of the Green Bay - Butler game at 4 p.m., No. 2 Valparaiso (30-17, 12-5 Horizon) will tangle with the winner of the UIC - Youngstown State contest at 6 p.m., and No. 3 Wright State (29-24, 13-7 Horizon) will play the winner of the Loyola - Detroit game at 8 p.m.

The winner of the Horizon League Championship receives an automatic bid to an NCAA Regional. Loyola is seeking its first-ever NCAA Regional berth.

Tickets are available at Loyola Softball Park on the day of game. An all-tournament pass can be purchased for $20 and all-day passes are available for $8. Senior citizens and children ages 12 thru high school can purchase tickets for $5, while children 12-and-under and all Horizon League students with a valid ID will be admitted free of charge.

Thursday, May 8
Game 1: No. 6 Green Bay vs. No. 7 Butler, 9 a.m.
Game 2: No. 5 UIC vs. No. 8 Youngstown State, 11 a.m.
Game 3: No. 4 Loyola vs. No. 9 Detroit, 1 p.m.
Game 4: No. 1 Cleveland State vs. Game 1 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 5: No. 2 Valparaiso vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.
Game 6: No. 3 Wright State vs. Game 3 winner, 8 p.m.

Friday, May 9
Game 7: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 9 a.m.
Game 8: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 11 a.m.
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 10: Game 6 loser vs. Game 7 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 11: Game 8 winner vs. Game 5 loser, 6 p.m.
Game 12: Game 4 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 8 p.m.

Saturday, May 10
Game 13: Game 10 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 9 a.m.
Game 14: Game 9 loser vs. Game 13 winner, 11 a.m.
Game 15: Game 14 winner vs. Game 12 loser, 2 p.m.
Game 16: Game 12 winner vs. Game 15 winner, 4 p.m.

Sunday, May 11 (if necessary)
Game 17: Game 16 winner vs. Game 16 loser, 9 a.m.