CHARLESTON SOUTHERN BOXSCORE (PDF)
QUICK HITS
- Riley Ries had two hits and drove in three runs against La Salle
- Kelly Hysong had three hits, scored two runs and drove in a run against La Salle
- Lindsay Ward collected three hits and drove in a run and also scored two runs in the win against La Salle
- Kelly Hysong earned her first victory of the season in the circle working 5.2 innings
- Alyssa Rose picked up her first save of the season
- Kelly Hysong hit her team-leading sixth home run of the season
- Cleveland State had a combined 26 hits, including a season-high 14 against La Salle, in the two games
- Sydney Bajusz homered and had two hits against Charleston Southern
- Alyssa Rose had two hits against Charleston Southern
GAME RECAP
JACKSONVILLE -- Riley Ries had two hits and drove in three runs and Kelly Hysong and Lindsay Ward each had three hits as Cleveland State piled up a season-high 14 hits in a 9-4 victory over La Salle on Saturday to earn a split of its two games at the Jacksonville/North Florida Spring Break Challenge at the UNF Softball Field.
Cleveland State dropped its opening game of the day to Charleston Southern 5-4 when a seventh-inning rally fell short. With the split on the day, Cleveland State improved its record to 4-13 overall.
Cleveland State led from start to finish against La Salle, including jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
Hysong led off the inning with a home run to right centerfield, which marked the third time this season she has led off the game for CSU with a home run.
Sydney Bajusz drew a walk and Ries was hit by a pitch and both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch. Alyssa Rose brought home the Vikings second run of the game on an RBI groundout, which plated Bajusz.
Lindsay Ward then capped the scoring in the first inning with a single to right that scored Ries and increased the CSU lead to 3-0.
The Vikings increased the lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the third inning with a pair of runs. Bajusz doubled to lead off the inning and trotted home when Ries singled to right centerfield.
Lindsay Ward reached on a fielder's choice and stole second base and then came in to score when Valeri Broschk singled down the rightfield line to up the lead to 5-0.
La Salle, which dropped to 2-6 on the year, tallied a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning but CSU would answer.
Hysong led off the inning with a double and scooted to third base on a single by Aly Packish. One batter later, Ries singled to bring home both Hysong and Packish increasing the CSU lead to 7-2.
La Salle cut the Vikings lead to 7-4 with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning, but CSU would once again have an answer.
Rose doubled to lead off the inning and advanced to third base when Lindsay Ward reached on an infield single. Broschk drove in her second run of the game when she lofted a sacrifice fly that plated Rose with the Vikings eighth run of the game.
Hallie Ward accounted for the Vikings final run of the game when her RBI groundout brought home Lindsay Ward.
In the Vikings first game of the day against Charleston Southern, CSU fell just short despite a seventh-inning rally.
Charleston Southern took an early 2-0 lead, but the Vikings would answer with two runs in the top of the second inning.
Rose singled to lead off the frame and advanced to second on a wild pitch. She came in to score CSU's first run of the day when Hanna Breeden followed with a single up the middle.
CSU tied the game at 2-2 later in the inning when Hysong delivered an RBI single to score Breeden.
The Buccaneers regained the lead with a run in the bottom of the second inning, but Cleveland State would once again answer with a run when Bajusz led off the third inning with her first home run of the season.
Charleston Southern took the lead again with a run in the bottom of the third inning and tacked on a run in the sixth inning to increase the lead to 5-3.
Ries singled to right to lead off the seventh inning for CSU and pinch-runner Talia Minisall advanced to second base when Rose followed with a single.
The Vikings climbed to within 5-4 when Lindsay Ward reached on a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt, which allowed Minisall to cross the plate.
Cleveland State loaded the bases when Mackenzie Tucker was hit by a pitch, but Charleston Southern was able to work out of the jam with a lineout to end the game.
Cleveland State will conclude play in the Spring Break Challenge when it takes on Jacksonville on Sunday (March 10) at 11:30 a.m.