QUICK HITS
- Riley Ries hit a two-run, walk-off single lifting the Vikings to the win
- The victory was the first for head coach Amy Kyler who is in her first season at CSU
- Cleveland State forced extra innings by scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning
- Hanna Griffin worked 6.2 innings and allowed no earned runs
- Riley Ries had three hits and drove in three runs
- Kelly Hysong had two hits for the Vikings
GAME RECAP
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Senior Riley Ries hit a one-out, walk-off single that scored two runs lifting Cleveland State to a dramatic 8-7 victory over Wagner on Saturday at the Pirate Clash at the ECU Softball Stadium.
Cleveland State, which rallied from a 6-0 deficit, trailed 7-6 entering the bottom of the ninth inning before storming back to notch its first win of the season.
Kelly Hysong led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a double to right. Abby Tolstyka, who pinch ran for Hysong, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Aly Packish.
Lindsay Ward walked and stole second base putting two runners in scoring position for Ries. Ries, who already had two hits on the night, ripped a single to left that brought home both Tolstyka and Ward giving the Vikings the win.
Hanna Griffin picked up the victory in the circle for Cleveland State with her second straight outstanding outing. She entered the game in the third inning and permitted only four hits and one unearned run in 6.2 innings, which allowed CSU to rally back into the game.
Down 6-1 entering the third, CSU broke through when Alyssa Rose scored on a passed ball after opening the inning with an infield single.
Cleveland State, which improved to 1-2 on the season, continued to chip away at the lead with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
In the fifth inning, Paige Hartley doubled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a fly out by Packish. She came home to score a batter later when Ward reached first on a passed ball.
Jordan Humitz homered to left in the bottom of the sixth inning, which brought the Vikings to within 6-3.
Cleveland State, which scored five runs in the seventh inning to force extra innings against East Carolina on Friday, once again found late inning magic against the Seahawks.
With two outs, Packish ignited the rally with a single to center. She advanced to second when Ward was hit by a pitch.
Ries followed with a single to left that scored Packish and Ward also came around to score when the Wagner leftfielder misplayed the ball to bring CSU to within 6-5.
Sydney Bajusz capped the comeback with a single up the middle that scored pinch-runner Mackenzie Tucker and knotted the game at 6-6.
Wagner took advantage of a CSU throwing error in the top of the ninth inning to take a short-lived 7-6 lead setting the stage for the heroics of Ries.
Cleveland State will conclude play in the Pirate Clash when it faces Saint Francis (Pa.) at 9 a.m. on Sunday (Feb. 17).