Vikings Split Twinbill at Detroit Mercy

Vikings Split Twinbill at Detroit Mercy

DETROIT, Mich. - Riley Ries, Emery Sipe and Hanna Breeden all hit home runs to help Cleveland State earn an 8-6 win over Detroit Mercy in the second game of today's doubleheader, helping the Vikings to a split. The Titans won the first game, 7-1.

The Vikings are now 13-22 overall and 3-6 in the Horizon League, while Detroit Mercy is 11-23 overall (6-7 HL).

After being limited to just three hits in the opener - including two from Breeden - the Vikings responded with nine hits and three homers in the second game to earn the split.

A three-run homer from Ries in the first inning gave the Vikings an early lead, but the Titans responded with two runs in the first and three more in the second to take a 5-3 lead.

A three-run fourth inning for the Vikings included a two-run single from Paige Hartley and an RBI fielder's choice by Mel Woodard put the Vikings ahead, 6-5. The lead reached 7-5 on Sipe's leadoff homer in the fifth, but the Titans came back with a run in the bottom half of the inning to pull back within one at 7-6.

Breeden's home run in the sixth gave the Vikings an insurance run and pushed lead lead to 8-6.

Hartley, Sipe and Mackenzie Joecken all had two hits in the second game, while Joecken also pitched a complete game to earn the win and improve to 6-8 this year. She sruck out nine.

CSU is back in action for a three-game series with Youngstown State this weekend at Viking Field, beginning with a 3:00 pm contest on Friday. The teams will also play a doubleheader on Saturday with the first game at 1:00 pm.