QUICK HITS
- Hanna Griffin pitched a complete game three-hitter in the victory over Quinnipiac
- Kelly Hysong hit her team-leading fourth homer of the season against Quinnipiac
- Hanna Breeden had a two-run double in the victory over the Bobcats
- Alyssa Rose and Taylor Duncan each had two hits against Robert Morris
- Alyssa Rose pitched 2.2 scoreless innings of relief against Robert Morris
- Aly Packish had the Vikings hit against Liberty
GAME RECAP
LYNCHBURG, Va. -- Freshman Hanna Griffin pitched a complete game three-hitter leading Cleveland State to a 6-1 victory over Quinnipiac on day two of the Liberty Classic on Saturday at the Liberty Softball Stadium.
The game against Quinnipiac was a resumption of the contest from Friday, which was halted due to rain. Cleveland State also dropped a 6-4 decision to Robert Morris and lost to Liberty 9-0 in its final game of the day.
Griffin was brilliant in leading the Vikings to their second win of the season. She went 7.0 innings and allowed just three hits and struck out two in picking up her second win of the season.
Griffin lost her shutout bid in the top of the seventh inning when the Bobcats pushed across a run on a sacrifice fly.
Cleveland State, which improved to 2-10 on the season with the win, held a 2-0 lead against Quinnipiac when the rains halted the game on Friday. The Vikings wasted little time in stretching out the lead on Saturday.
With one out in the fifth inning, Riley Ries walked and Alyssa Rose followed with a single. Lindsay Ward advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt and Hanna Breeden increased the lead to 4-0 with a two-run double.
The Vikings would add two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning courtesy of the long ball. Mackenzie Tucker led off the inning with a walk and Kelly Hysong delivered her team-leading fourth homer of the season to extend the CSU lead to 6-0, which was more than enough offense for Griffin.
In the Vikings first game of the day, Robert Morris jumped out to a 5-0 lead and then held off a CSU rally to post the win.
The Colonials scored two runs in the first inning and then added three runs in the top of the fourth inning before the Vikings stormed back into the game.
Aly Packish led off the inning with a double and Sydney Bajusz brought home the Vikings first run of the game with a double to centerfield.
Rose reached on an infield single moving Bajusz to third and Lindsay Ward plated Bajusz when she advanced to second on a Colonial throwing error.
After Ward stole second base, Breeden brought home Rose with an RBI groundout to bring the Vikings to within 5-3.
Cleveland State climbed to within 5-4 of the lead when Taylor Duncan hit an RBI single to left that scored Ward.
Robert Morris extended the lead to 6-4 with a run in the top of the fifth inning. The Vikings loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth inning, but were unable to push across a run.
Katie Gasvoda worked a scoreless seventh inning to close out the win for Robert Morris.
In the Vikings final game of the day, Julia DiMartinto and Braelyn Cooper combined on a one-hit shutout of the Vikings.
Cleveland State will conclude play in the Liberty Classic on Sunday (March 3) when it faces Robert Morris at 8 a.m.