Contact: Jeff Sattora
Game Six
Bucknell at Cleveland State
Krenzler Field- Cleveland, Ohio
Saturday, February 16, 2013
3:00 p.m.
Game Seven
Canisius at Cleveland State
Krenzler Field- Cleveland, Ohio
Saturday, February 16, 2013
5:00 p.m.
Game Eight
Bucknell at Cleveland State
Krenzler Field- Cleveland, Ohio
Sunday, February 17, 2013
2:00 p.m.
Game Nine
St. Bonaventure at Cleveland State
Krenzler Field- Cleveland, Ohio
Sunday, February 17, 2013
4:00 p.m.
SETTING THE SCENE:After spending last weekend at the East Carolina Pirate Classic, the Cleveland State Vikings (0-5) will be home for the first time this season as they host the CSU Dome Tournament this weekend at Krenzler Field. CSU will first take on Bucknell at 3:00 p.m. and Canisius at 5:00 p.m. Saturday, before then facing Bucknell again at 2:00 p.m. and St. Bonaventure at 4:00 p.m. Sunday.
LAST TIME OUT:The Cleveland State Vikings opened up their 2013 season this past weekend at the East Carolina Pirate Classic, unfortunately falling in all five games.
On day one of the Pirate Classic, the Vikings fell in two games first to the Towson Tigers, 9-2, and then second to the host Pirates, 5-2
Three different Vikings led the offensive charge on day one for CSU. Senior Dara Toman and freshman Alyson Broschk each knocked in Vikings' runs in game one, with Toman knocking in an RBI single and Broschk hitting her first career home run. Sophomore Cynthia Woodardalso hit a homer for CSU in game two.
Sophomore Erica McNewshined on day two of the Classic. McNew hit a two-run home run in game one for CSU, and in the second game scored the Vikings' only run on a sacrifice fly.
CSU had another Viking underclassman step up on day three, in a game the Vikings unfortunately dropped, 3-2 to Rider. Freshman Sarah Knight led CSU on the offensive side, going a perfect 2-2 at the plate.
GETTING RECOGNIZED: 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 Shieldswas 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 will have a very young roster this season, with multiple underclassman contributing at the early point in the season. Looking at the stats through five games of the season, six freshman or sophomores have started at least three games and played in at least four. That group includes freshmen Briana Combs, Susan Knight, Alisha Silva, and Alyson Broschk.
NEXT UP:The Cleveland State Vikings will be on the road next weekend as they head to Evansville, IN, to participate in the Evansville Tournament. The Vikings will have four games in two days on the weekend. CSU will first take on Austin Peay and Evansville Saturday, before then facing IUPUI and Austin Peay on Sunday.
SEASON PREVIEW BY POSITION:
Pitchers- With only one pitcher (Sara Shields), returning to the Vikings that picked up a win last season, CSU will be looking for a balanced team effort on the mound in 2013. 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 and Susan Knightas freshman.
Catcher- Redshirt Freshman Erica McNew 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 to a torn ACL and is ready to bounce back in 2013. Freshman Lauren Lookis also looking to compete for time behind the plate this upcoming year.
Infield- Dara Toman, a 2012 Horizon League First Team All-League selection, and Nena Doran, a 2012 All-Newcomer Horizon 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 this season. While Doran, who filled in at shortstop for an injuredCynthia Woodard, was seventh in the Horizon League in assists with 94.
Filling out the infield at shortstop and second base is expected to be Cynthia Woodard at shortstop and Janessa Rivera-Keahiat second.
Outfield- Senior Caila Ferro is expecting to lead the way this season for the Vikings in the outfield. After hitting .266 in 52 games last season she unfortunately went down with an injury. Two freshmen will be looking to fill starting roles alongside Woodard in Allisha Silva and Alyson Broschk.
Other players who could contribute and see time in the outfield include Katelind Phillips and Darien Ward as freshman, and Nena Doran (when she is not in the infield), Afton Allred, and Hannah Yoe as returning players.
