QUICK HITS
- Hanna Griffin notched her team-leading fifth win of the season with a complete game in the opener
- Kelly Hysong notched her first shutout of the season in game two
- Riley Ries blasted a two-run home run in game one
- Aly Packish lifted a game-winning sacrifice fly in the sixth inning of the second game
- Paige Hartley was 3-for-3 with two runs scored in game one
- Kelly Hysong drove in two runs in game one
RECAP
CLEVELAND -- Hanna Griffin and Kelly Hysong each recorded complete-game victories and Riley Ries had two hits including a home run and Cleveland State swept Green Bay in its home opener on Saturday at Viking Field. The Vikings won the opener 4-3 and then finished off the sweep with a 1-0 win in game two.
The Vikings held off a late charge in game one and then rode the pitching of Hysong and a sacrifice fly by Aly Packish in the sixth inning to the victory in game two. With the sweep, Cleveland State improved to 9-20 on the season and 2-3 in the Horizon League, while Green Bay dropped to 6-16 overall and 1-4 in league play.
The pitching of Griffin and the bat of Ries carried the Vikings to the 4-3 victory in the opener. Griffin went 7.0 innings and allowed just five hits and struck out three batters to improve to 5-9 on the season, while Ries was 1-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs to pace the offense.
Cleveland State took a 1-0 lead in the third inning as Paige Hartley doubled down the leftfield line and Hysong followed with a double to right centerfield.
After the Phoenix tied the game with a homer to lead off the fourth inning, Griffin worked out of a jam to keep the game tied. She surrendered a triple to the next Green Bay batter, but got a groundout, a foul out and another groundout to escape the inning with the game still tied.
The Vikings took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Packish singled to left center to begin the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lindsay Ward. She then trotted the rest of the way home as Ries blasted a home run to leftfield giving the Vikings a 3-1 lead.
Cleveland State tacked on a run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Hartley tripled and scored on an RBI fielder's choice by Hysong.
Green Bay got a two-run homer from Alyssa Brewer in the top of the seventh inning, but Griffin got two lineouts and a pop up to end the game.
Hartley finished the game 3-for-3 and scored two runs, while Hysong, Packish, Ries, Sydney Bajusz and Hallie Ward also had hits for the Vikings.
Game two belonged to Hysong as she went 7.0 innings and allowed four hits and struck out six batters to earn her fourth win of the season.
Hysong and Brittany Baneck locked in a pitcher's duel in game two and the game remained deadlocked until the bottom of the sixth inning when Cleveland State finally broke through.
Hysong led off the inning by reaching on a Green Bay throwing error. Pinch-runner Talia Minisall advanced to third on a wild pitch and Packish then delivered a sacrifice fly to center to bring home Minisall with what proved to be the winning run.
Packish, Lindsay Ward, Ries and Hallie Ward each collected base hits for the Vikings in game two.
Cleveland State will seek a three-game sweep of the Phoenix when the series concludes on Sunday (April 7) at Viking Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. in the series finale.