CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Sara Shields pitched a complete game, five-hitter, to help lead Cleveland State to a 5-1 victory over St. Bonaventure in the Vikings’ second game at Charlotte on Saturday afternoon.
CSU, which dropped today’s first game to Robert Morris, 3-1, improved to 4-2 in the early part of the 2014 season.
The Vikings scored a run in each of the first three innings to take a 3-0 lead and added two runs in the sixth inning to extend the lead to 5-0.
Cynthia Woodard had an RBI single in the first inning that scored Erica McNew, while Hannah Yoe scored on a passed ball in the second inning. An RBI single from Alyson Broschk scored Woodard in the third inning to make it 3-0.
That was more than enough run support for Shields, who limited SBU to just five hits, while striking out nine to improve to 2-1 this season. The lone run came on the final batter of the game when SBU scored a run before the final out of a double play was recorded after a fly out to right field.
Shields aided her own cause with an RBI sacrifice bunt in the sixth inning, while Alisha Silva added a sacrifice fly.
Woodard continued her torrid pace at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI, while Katelind Phillips finished 2-for-3.
Woodard is hitting .438 with four RBI this season.
The Vikings conclude play in Charlotte with a pair of games on Sunday. CSU will face St. Bonaventure at 12:00 p.m. and host Charlotte at 4:00 p.m.