QUICK HITS
- Kelly Hysong pitched a one-hit shutout in the opener with five strikeouts
- Kelly Hysong plated the only run of game one with a home run to centerfield in the bottom of the sixth inning
- Kelly Hysong went 3-for-3 in game two
- Gabby Shackelford was 2-for-4 in game two with two runs scored
- Paige Hartley went 3-for-4 in game two with a run scored and a RBI
- Aly Packish, Riley Ries and Emery Sipe also drove in runs for CSU in game two
- Bailee Gray, Riley Ries and Macy Kaisk were each honored prior to the game during Senior Day ceremonies
RECAP
CLEVELAND -- Kelly Hysong went a combined 4-for-6 at the plate and tossed a one-hit shutout as Cleveland State earned a split with visiting IUPUI on Senior Day on Saturday. Behind Hysong's pitching the Vikings won the opener 1-0 and then dropped a 10-6 decision in game two.
Hysong had a brilliant day for the Vikings both in the circle and at the plate to lead CSU to the split of the Horizon League doubleheader. She homered and drove in the lone run of game one in addition to her efforts in the circle and then went 3-for-3 with a single, double and a triple in game two. She also pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief in game two.
Hysong and Lexi Lucas locked in a pitcher's duel in game one as neither pitcher allowed a run through five innings, but the Vikings would reach Lucas in the bottom of the sixth inning.
With one out, Hysong ripped a home run to straight away centerfield giving Cleveland State a 1-0 lead.
Hysong worked around a two-out walk and ended the game with a groundout to record her fifth win of the season. Hysong continued her brilliant pitching as of late as she has pitched to a 1.59 earned run average over her last eight appearances in the circle and has picked up three wins.
Cleveland State, which improved to 11-27 overall and 4-10 in the Horizon League, fell behind early before staging a late rally in game two of the doubleheader.
IUPUI, which dropped to 15-33 on the year and 9-8 in league play, scored three times in the top of the first inning.
Cleveland State countered with a run in the bottom of the first inning when Hysong doubled to lead off the inning and later came in to score on a throwing error by the Jaguars catcher.
IUPUI scored two runs in the third, two more in the fifth and three times tin the sixth inning to extend the lead to 10-1, but the Vikings would rally.
Gabby Shackelford got the Vikings sixth inning started with a triple to center and pinch-hitter Emery Sipe followed with a base hit to bring in Shackelford to cut the lead to 10-2.
Paige Hartley singled to right, which advanced Sipe to second base. Sipe would then steal third base and score on a wild pitch to trim the margin to 10-3.
Hysong singled to rightfield putting runners on the corners with no outs and Aly Packish delivered a sacrifice fly to right that scored Hartley and brought CSU to within 10-4.
Riley Ries capped the scoring for the Vikings when she singled to left to bring home pinch-runner Talia Minisall and cut the lead to 10-5.
Cleveland State would make things interesting in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Shackelford doubled to center with one out and scored when Hartley reached on an infield single to trim the deficit to 10-6. Hysong walked to put two runners on base, but winning pitcher Deairae Leonard got a groundout to end the game.
Cleveland State and IUPUI will conclude the three-game series on Sunday (April 21) with a single game that is scheduled for an 11 a.m. first pitch.
Prior to the start of the game, Bailee Gray, Ries and Macy Kaisk were honored during Senior Day ceremonies.