LIVE STATS: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland State softball team opens Horizon League play with a three-game series at UIC this weekend. The series begins with doubleheader on Friday (March 24) at 2:00 pm ET with a single game slated for Saturday (March 25) at 1:00 pm ET.
The Vikings were tabbed sixth in the Horizon League Preseason poll, one year after finishing fifth in the League standings. UIC, the defending Horizon League regular season champion, was picked as the favorite in the League preseason poll.
Mackenzie Joecken tops the Vikings with a .327 batting average with two doubles, a homer and nine RBI. She has also been CSU's top pitcher, posting a 4.04 ERA in 62.1 innings of work with 28 strikeouts.
Last week, Joecken hit .615 (8-13) with one run, one double, a homer and five RBI in CSU's six games. She had three multi-hit games during the week, including a 3-for-4 effort with a run, a double and three RBI in a win over Indiana State.
In addition, she also worked 5.2 innings in the circle to earn the victory.
Melissa Jacobsen used a strong week last week, going 8-for-17 (.471) at the plate to raise her average to .288 this year. Jacobsen, who is tops on the team with 23 hits, went 3-for-4 in CSU's most recent game on Sunday at FGCU.
Macy Kaisk is hitting .264 with three homers and seven RBI, while Riley Ries has driven in a team-best 10 runs this year.
CSU is back in action on Tuesday (March 28) with a doubleheader at Akron. First pitch is slated for 3:00 pm. The Vikings will also host Niagara on Thursday (March 30) for a doubleheader at Viking Field with the first game slated for 3:00 pm.