CLERMONT, Fla. - Cynthia Woodard drove in three runs and Susan Knight worked 6 1/3 strong innings as Cleveland State defeated South Dakota State, 6-5, in the final game of the Dot Richardson Invitational on Sunday morning.
CSU, which went 2-3 in the tournament, improved to 5-3 this season.
Woodard gave the Vikings a quick 2-0 lead with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning that also drove in Nena Doran who walked to lead off the game and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Knights.
The Vikings took advantage of two Jackrabbit errors in the fifth inning to score four unearned runs and extend the lead to 6-0. Knight had an RBI triple and Woodard added an RBI double, while Alyson Broschk delivered a two-run single.
SDSU scored three runs in the sixth and Devan Larson hit a two-run homer with one out in the seventh to pull the Jackrabbits within one at 6-5.
But Alex Radjen relieved Knight and got the final two outs on a strikeout and groundout to earn the save.
Knight scattered nine hits and gave up five runs (four earned), while fanning seven and walking just one.
Woodard and Doran both went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, while Broschk went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
CSU is out of action next week and returns to action at the Western Kentucky Invitational with five games from Feb. 27 until March 1.