WACO, Texas - Mackenzie Joecken fired a complete game and Mel Woodard drove in two runs to help lead Cleveland State to a 5-4 victory at No. 21/22 Baylor on Tuesday night in the second game of a doubleheader at Getterman Stadium.
The Vikings dropped the opener, 6-3.
In the nightcap, the Bears jumped on the board with a pair of runs in the first inning, but CSU came back to grab the lead with three runs in the third inning. The Vikings loaded the bases with three straight walks to lead off the inning and Erica McNew followed with a one out RBI groundout to third base.
After another walk to Alyson Broschk, Woodard came through with a two-run single to right center, scoring Susan Knight and Katelind Phillips.
CSU extended its lead to 4-2 in the sixth inning when Knight delivered an RBI single to score Kait Gairing who had reached base on a single earlier in the inning. The Bears came right back with a run in the bottom of the sixth to slice the CSU lead to 4-3, but Alisha Silva came through with a two out, RBI single through the left side in the seventh inning to score pinch runner Darien Warn for an insurance run.
It proved to be a big run as Caitlin Charlton hit a one out solo homer in the bottom of the seventh to pull the Bears within one run at 5-4, but Joecken retired the next two batters on a foul out to third base and ground ball to second base to seal the win.
Joecken was strong in the circle all night, scattering seven hits and giving up just three runs, one earned, while striking out one and walking just one. She improved to 2-3 with the win.
Seven different Vikings had one hit in game two, while Woodard drove in two runs and Knight, Silva and McNew all had on RBI.
In the opener, Baylor scored single runs in the first, second and fourth innings and added three more in the fifth to take a 6-0 lead.
The Vikings rallied in the seventh inning, scoring three runs on an RBI fielder's choice from Sidney Morgan and a two-run double from Knight. CSU brought the tying run to the plate with two outs and runners on second and third, but a fly out to right field ended the game.
Phillips went 2-for-3 in the opener, while Knight, Riley Ries, Broschk and Silva all had one hit.
Knight worked all six innings in the circle, giving up six runs (three earned) on nine hits and striking out two.
The Vikings return to action on Thursday (March 17) with a doubleheader at UT-Arlington. The first game is scheduled for 3:00 pm ET.
