QUICK HITS
- Kelly Hysong was 1-for-3 to extend her current hitting streak to seven straight games
- Sydney Bajusz was 1-for-3 for Cleveland State
- Valeri Broschk and Taylor Duncan scored the Vikings runs
- Kelly Hysong went 2.0 innings as the starter and Hanna Griffin went 2.1 innings in relief
GAME RECAP
MACON, Ga. -- Cleveland State dropped its opener of the Bears Classic to Mercer 10-2 on Friday at Sikes Field in Macon, Ga.
The Bears piled up 13 hits on the day and held the Vikings off the scoreboard until the fifth inning.
Cleveland State, which saw its two-game winning streak come to an end, was held to two hits by Bailey Pattison. The Vikings got hits from Kelly Hysong and Sydney Bajusz, while Valeri Broschk and Taylor Duncan scored runs for CSU.
Mercer, which improved to 11-16 on the season, scored four times in the second inning and added two runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
Cleveland State, which dropped to 5-14 on the year, finally broke though in the top of the fifth inning.
Broschk reached on a throwing error to start the inning and advanced to third when Duncan also reached via a throwing error.
The Vikings loaded the bases when Paige Hartley drew a walk. Broschk and Duncan both crossed the plate for the Vikings when Aly Packish was safe on the Bears third error of the inning.
CSU once again loaded the bases when Riley Ries was hit by a pitch, but a foul out ended the Vikings threat.
Mercer than clinced the win in the bottom of the fifth inning when Danielle Castleberry hit a two-run single to rightfield increasing the Bears lead to 10-2.
Cleveland State will return to action on Saturday (March 16) when it faces Ball State at 11:15 a.m. and then meets South Dakota at 8:15 p.m.