Vikings Four-Game Winning Streak Halted by Detroit Mercy

Vikings Four-Game Winning Streak Halted by Detroit Mercy

QUICK HITS

  • Lindsay Ward belted a game-tying solo homer in the bottom of the seventh inning of game two
  • Hanna Griffin permitted six hits and two runs in the opener
  • Kelly Hysong allowed just four hits in 8.0 innings in game two
  • Cleveland State had its four-game winning streak snapped in game one of the doubleheader

CLEVELAND -- Lindsay Ward had three hits, including a home run, but Cleveland State had its four-game winning streak snapped by Detroit Mercy as the Titans swept a doubleheader from the Vikings on Tuesday at Viking Field. Detroit Mercy won the opener 2-0 and then held off a late CSU charge to post a 3-2 win in game two.

Detroit Mercy overcame two solid pitching performances by Hanna Griffin and Kelly Hysong via the long ball. All five of the Titans runs on the day were driven in by a home run as Courtney Gilbert hit a two-run homer in game one and Jordan Manno belted two homers and drove in three runs in the second game.

Griffin was the tough-luck loser in the opener as she permitted just six hits and the two runs, while Hysong allowed only four hits and three runs in game two.

Cleveland State, which dropped to 10-22 overall and 3-5 in the Horizon League, almost salvaged a split in the doubleheader with a late-game comeback in game two.

After being limited to one hit through the first six innings of game two, Ward belted her second homer of the season to leftfield leading off the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game at 1-1.

Manno answered with a two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning, but the Vikings would mount another comeback.

With one out, Paige Hartley drew a walk, but was erased at second when Hysong reached on a fielder's choice. Aly Packish followed with a walk, which forced pinch-runner Valeri Broschk to second base.

Ward trimmed the lead to 3-2 with a single to right that plated Broschk, but Ashley Mauser got a groundout to end the game and complete the sweep.

Mauser also earned the win in game one as she allowed just four hits in the opener and struck out seven. With the two wins, Mauser raised her record to 11-8,

Hysong, Lindsay Ward, Riley Ries and Hallie Ward had hits for the Vikings in game one, while Sydney Bajusz, Hartley and Lindsay Ward had the Vikings hits in game two.

The two teams will conclude the series on Wednesday (April 10) with a game scheduled for 1 p.m. at Viking Field.