QUICK HITS
- Hanna Griffin pitched her first career shutout going 8.0 innings and striking out six
- Alyssa Rose had the Vikings only hit on the day with a double in the second inning
- The shutout was the first of the season for Cleveland State
- Hanna Griffin permitted just one hit over the final 4.0 innings
- Aly Packish scored the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly by Riley Ries
- Hanna Griffin registered a season-high six strikeouts
GAME RECAP
MACON, Ga. -- Riley Ries hit a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning to score Aly Packish and Hanna Griffin tossed eight scoreless innings as Cleveland State wrapped up play in the Bears Classic on Sunday with a 1-0 victory over Connecticut at Sikes Field.
Packish was placed on second base to begin the eighth inning via the tie-breaker rule. She advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Lindsay Ward.
Ries then fouled out to right field and Packish scampered home with the winning run giving the Vikings a 1-0 win.
Griffin, who recorded her first career shutout, blanked the Huskies over 8.0 innings by allowing eight hits and striking out six batters. She improved to 4-6 on the season with the victory.
Cleveland State, which improved to 6-16 on the season, was held to just one hit on the day by the combination of Katie Koshes and Marybeth Olson.
Griffin, who held Connecticut to just one hit over the final four innings, worked out of a jam in the top of the eighth inning.
Pinch-runner Aziah James was placed on second base to start the inning and advanced to third base on a passed ball. Griffin got Briana Marcelino to pop up to shortstop before Ashley Esty reached first on an infield single. Griffin then got a fly out and a groundout to first base to escape the inning and keep the game at 0-0.
Cleveland State opens Horizon League play at UIC on Friday (March 22). The Vikings and Flames will play a single game on Friday and then a doubleheader on Saturday (March 23).
