QUICK HITS
- Kelly Hysong went 8.0 innings and allowed only four hits while striking out seven batters to earn the win
- Riley Ries drove in the winning run in the top of the eighth inning
- Riley Ries finished the game 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI
- Kelly Hysong scored the winning run on the game-winning double by Riley Ries
- Cleveland State out-hit Jacksonville 5-4
- The Vikings were perfect in the field, which marked the fourth time this season CSU has not committed an error in a game
GAME RECAP
JACKSONVILLE -- Junior Kelly Hysong allowed just four hits and struck out seven batters and Riley Ries drove in the winning run with a double leading Cleveland State to a 2-1 victory over Jacksonville in eight innings on Sunday on the final day of the Jacksonville/North Florida Spring Break Challenge at the Pruitt Softball Field.
Hysong was placed on second base via the tiebreaker rule to start the top of the eighth inning. With two outs, Ries jumped on the first pitch she saw and doubled to bring home Hysong with what proved to be the winning run.
Hysong worked out of a jam in the bottom of the eighth inning to secure the victory. Serena Quinata was placed on second base and sacrificed to third base by Carolyn O'Neal. With the tying run just 60 feet away, Hysong got a foul out and an infield pop up to end the threat.
The Vikings took an early lead with a run in the top of the second inning.
Lindsay Ward walked to lead off the frame and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Gabby Shackelford. Ward advanced to third on a groundout by Valeri Broschk and came in to score the first run of the game on a throwing error by Abby Genest.
Hysong kept the Dolphins off the scoreboard until the bottom of the fourth inning when Kassidy Cross hit a sacrifice fly that tied the game at 1-1.
Cleveland State, which improved to 5-13, threatened to regain the lead in the top of the fifth inning. Broschk singled to lead off the inning and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Paige Hartley.
Aly Packish followed with a single and the Vikings loaded the bases when Sydney Bajusz walked, but the Dolphins escaped on a groundout to end the inning.
Hysong retired six straight batters in the fifth and sixth innings before allowing an infield single to lead off the seventh inning, but she was erased when Ries threw her out trying to steal.
Cleveland State then cashed in on its opportunity in the top of the eighth inning to finish the tournament with a 2-3 record.
Cleveland State will return to action on Friday (March 15) when it participates in the Bears Classic hosted by Mercer.