ST. LOUIS – Ramblers sophomore Kayci Rigby launched a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning on Friday, completing an 8-7 comeback victory for top-seeded Loyola Chicago over No. 3 seed Dayton at the Betterment A-10 Softball Championship. After trailing 7-0 earlier in the game, Loyola scored eight unanswered runs to clinch a spot in Saturday’s championship game slated for 12 p.m. CT at Billiken Sports Center.

After a scoreless first inning, Dayton freshman Hayden Baird drew first blood with a solo home run to right field. The Flyers added an unearned run soon after on a sacrifice fly, expanding the lead to 4-0 in the third inning on a two-run homer from junior Deirdre Flaherty.

Dayton junior Kirnan Bailey joined the home run party, hitting a two-run shot to right field in the fourth inning. Another sacrifice fly gave the Flyers a 7-0 lead.

Loyola Chicago never bowed out, putting together a five-run rally in the fifth inning to pull within reach. The Ramblers recorded two hits in the frame, drawing five walks. Loyola kept the momentum going, tying the game 7-7 with two runs in the sixth inning. Sophomore Averi Vander Woude scored the seventh run in thrilling fashion, escaping a rundown to steal home.
 
Despite allowing a walk and single by the first two batters of the seventh inning, Ramblers junior Maddy Hickey steadied on the mound to retire the next three opposing batters. Rigby ended the game as the leadoff hitter in the bottom half of the frame, sending a well-struck ball over the left field fence.
 
Loyola Chicago enters Saturday’s championship game with a chance to secure the program’s first-ever A-10 softball crown. Entering the game without a loss, No. 4 seed Fordham can clinch the title with a win. If Loyola Chicago wins Saturday’s first matchup, the series will extend to a winner-take-all second game immediately after.