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CANFIELD, Ohio - The Vikings first batter of the game reached and scored but that was all the offense the Vikings could muster in Sunday's (April 1) 7-1 loss to host Youngstown State.

The Vikings were swept in the three-game series and slid to 8-26 overall and 1-5 in the Horizon League. Youngstown State improves to 19-6-1 and 5-1 in league play.

YSU starting pitcher Kayla Haslett hit leadoff hitter Dara Toman with a pitch to start the game.Andrea Nagy sacrificed her up to second base and after a groundout and a walk, Toman scored while the runner on first got caught between first and second.

Cleveland State carried that lead into the third inning when the Penguins got to CSU's starting pitcher, Sara Shields.

The inning started with a Kristen Philen solo home run to left center field. After the next batter fouled out, center fielder Hayley Thomas hit a solo shot to left center and gave YSU a 2-1 lead.

With two outs in the third, Jordan Ingalls doubled to left center and later scored on a hit up the middle by Vicky Rumph to make it 3-1 in favor of the home team and knock Shields out of the game.

Kelsi Reed came in and got the final out of the third inning.

Shields remained in the lineup and singled to start the fourth, extending her hitting streak to nine games. She's hitting .379 (11-29) over that span, dating back to March 16. She was stranded in the fourth and the Penguins countered with a three-run home half of the inning to increase their lead to 6-1. 

The Vikings never could push another run across - not even in the fifth inning when Salena Kauffman, Toman and Nagy all singled.

YSU added a run in the bottom of the sixth and the Vikings had hits from Afton Allred and Kauffman in the seventh but failed to score.

Shields was dealt the loss to fall to 6-9. She allowed three runs on five hits in her 2.2 innings of work. Reed relieved her and got two outs while allowing three runs - only one of which was earned.Alex Radjen covered the last 2.2 innings and allowed the run in the sixth.

Haslett went the distance and allowed just the one run on seven hits. She issued one free pass and hit two batters while recording one strikeout.

After 34 games away from home - either at a road or neutral site - the Vikings will finally compete on their home field when Niagara visits Viking Field for a doubleheader on Wednesday (April 4). First pitch of game one is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.