Contact: Jeff Sattora
SETTING THE SCENE: The Cleveland State Vikings will continue their spring break road swing this week as they head to Jackson, Miss. for six games at Jackson State University in a three day period from Thursday to Saturday. CSU will begin that trip with a double header vs. the host Lady Tigers Thursday at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT: CSU is coming off a 2-3 weekend at Oklahoma State University this past Friday through Sunday, a stretch that saw them pick up wins vs. Santa Clara (7-1) and Northern Iowa (5-4).
Sophomore Erica McNew led the way with two home runs on the weekend. For the year she is currently second on the team in batting average (.342) and hits (13), while leading the team in home runs (4).
On the mound freshman Susan Knight picked up her fourth win of the season vs. Santa Clara in a complete game starting role, while junior Sara Shields came in in relief to pick up the victory vs. Northern Iowa Saturday. The win was Shields' first of the season.
TOMAN LEADING THE WAY: Senior Dara Toman, one of the best hitters in Cleveland State history, is once again leading the Vikings offensively in the early going of the 2013 season. Toman currently leads CSU in batting average (.359), hits (14), doubles (6), slugging percentage (.718), on base percentage (.444) and steals (4).
SHINING KNIGHT: Freshman Susan Knight currently is leading the Vikings on the mound with four wins on the year.
Knight was a star in her first weekend action Feb. 16-17 at the CSU Dome Invite. She pitched the first game and shutout of her career in a 3-0 win over Bucknell to begin the weekend Feb. 16th. She pitched seven strong innings in the win, giving up just three hits and striking out seven for the win. The freshman continued to pitch strong in her other two starts, allowing just six runs on 12 hits to pick up her next two wins, a 6-2 eight-inning victory over Bucknell and a 7-2 win over Canisius.
In nine total appearances on the year Knight has a 4-3 record with a 2.40 ERA and a team leading 37 strikeouts.
PRESEASON RECOGNITION: Senior infielder Dara Toman, a 2012 Horizon League All-League First Team selection, was named First Team All-League preseason by College Sports Madness. Utility player Sara Shields was also named a Second Team All-League selection by the site. Shields was both a Second Team All-League and All-Newcomer team selection in 2012 in the Horizon League.
YOUTH MOVEMENT: The Cleveland State Vikings have a young roster this season, with multiple underclassman contributing at the early point in the season. Through 14 games, seven freshman or sophomores have played in at least 11 games, with each one starting at least nine.
NEXT UP: CSU will be home next weekend for the second time this season, as they get ready to begin Horizon League play with three games vs. Detroit Saturday and Sunday. The double-header Saturday will be at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
2013 SEASON PREVIEW BY POSITION: (2013 Stats in bold parentheses)
Pitchers- With only Sara Shields (1-1) returning to the Vikings who picked up a win last season, CSU will be looking for a balanced team effort on the mound in 2013. Head Coach Angie Nicholson mentioned four players who she expects to be factors for CSU in the pitching spot in Sara Shields and Alex Radjen as returners, and Briana Combs (0-5) and Susan Knight (4-3) as freshman.
Catcher- Sophomore Erica McNew (.342 BA, 4 HR) will be leading the way at this position for the Vikings this season. After starting the first seven games of the year last year in the green and white (batting .136), she went down with a torn ACL and is ready to bounce back in 2013. Freshman Lauren Look is also looking to compete for time behind the plate this upcoming year.
Infield- Dara Toman (.359 BA 14 hits, 2 HR), a 2012 Horizon League First Team selection, and Nena Doran (.233 BA), a 2012 All-Newcomer League selection will be returning in 2013 to lead a group with high expectations.
Toman led the CSU last season in batting average (.405), home runs (19), runs batted in (42), slugging percentage (.892), and on-base percentage (.553) and will be looking to do the same in 2013. While Doran, who filled in at shortstop for an injured Cynthia Woodard, was seventh in the Horizon League in assists with 94.
Filling out the infield is expected to be Cynthia Woodard (.244 BA, 11 hits) at shortstop and Janessa Rivera-Keahi (.217 BA) at second.
Outfield- Senior Caila Ferro (.216 BA) is expecting to lead the way for the Vikings in the outfield. After hitting .266 in 52 games last season she unfortunately went down with an injury.
Others who will be competing to fill starting roles alongside Woodard are freshman Katelind Phillips (.308 BA, 8 hits), Alyson Broschk (.262 BA, 11 hits), Darien Ward, and Allisha Silva, as well as Nena Doran (when she is not in the infield), Afton Allred, and Hannah Yoe as returning players.
