Box Score

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CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland State built a big lead and held on for dear life to pick up a 7-5 league win over Butler on Saturday (April 28) at Viking Field.

The Vikings improve to 14-34 overall and 6-10 in Horizon League play while Butler dips to 21-30 and 11-11 in the league.

Megan Bashak dominated early, belting a two-run homer in the bottom of the first. Butler didn't record a base hit until the sixth inning off Bashak. When all was said and done, she allowed four earned runs on four hits while walking one and striking out a career-high 10 Bulldogs.

CSU had a 7-0 lead after five innings, but the Bulldogs cut the deficit to two runs with a five-run sixth inning. All four Butler hits came in that inning and the visitors were aided by a Viking miscue in the field.

Bashak's homer in the first brought in Dara Toman after the junior first baseman singled to start the inning. The Vikings got a run in the fourth when Alicia Nichols stole home when the Butler catcher threw down to second base, attempting to pickoff Toman.

The Vikings widened the gap to seven runs with a four-run fifth. Sara Shields reached on a throwing error by the catcher after striking out and Caila Ferro followed with a single. Both Shields and Ferro eventually scored on a Nena Doran single. Hannah Yoedoubled in Doran and then scored herself on a Nichols base knock. 

Butler starting pitcher Leah Bry recorded just one out and took the loss to fall to 9-18. She gave up three hits and a pair of earned runs before giving way to Breanna Fisher who went four innings and allowed five runs - four of which were earned - on six hits and five walks. Fisher did have nine strikeouts.

Sarah Lowry pitched the final 1 2/3 innings and didn't allow a run.

Seven of the nine hitters in the CSU starting lineup had a hit, lead by Shields, Ferro and Yoe who all had two.

Toman was 1-2 with two walks to reach safely for the 28th consecutive game.

The three-game series concludes with a doubleheader tomorrow. The first game will begin at 12:00 p.m.