QUICK HITS
- Kelly Hysong went 2-for-5 in game one with a RBI
- Mackenzie Tucker went 2-for-4 in game one and 1-for-4 in game two
- Lindsay Ward was a combined 3-for-7 with two runs scored
- Hallie Ward hit a triple in each game
- Cleveland State overcame a 5-0 deficit in game one to force extra innings
GAME RECAP
ROCHESTER, Mich. -- Riley Ries, Lindsay Ward and Mackenzie Tucker each had three hits, but Cleveland State suffered a pair of heartbreaking losses to Oakland in Horizon League play on Wednesday at the Oakland Softball Field. The Grizzlies won the opening game 6-5 in nine innings and then defeated the Vikings 4-3 in eight innings in game two.
Cleveland State, which dropped to 12-30 overall and 5-13 in the Horizon League, overcame deficits in each game to force extra innings only to see the Grizzlies emerge victorious in each game.
The Grizzlies, who improved to 14-27 on the season and 7-13 in the Horizon League, jumped out to a 5-0 lead in game one with three runs in the first inning and two additional runs in the third inning.
Cleveland State began its comeback in the top of the fourth inning by scoring three times.
Lindsay Ward and Ries opened the inning with back-to-back base hits and the Vikings loaded the bases with no outs when Tucker reached on a bunt single.
Gabby Shackelford brought in Cleveland State's first run of the game when she reached on a fielder's choice, which brought home Lindsay Ward to cut the lead to 5-1.
Hallie Ward followed with a two-run triple to right centerfield that scored both Ries and Shackelford and brought the Vikings to within 5-3.
Cleveland State would come all the way back by scoring two runs in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game.
Shackelford opened the inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Hallie Ward. Shackelford advanced to third on a groundout by Bailee Gray and trotted home with the tying run when Paige Hartley doubled to deep centerfield.
The Vikings put runners on in the seventh and ninth innings, but were unable to advance them beyond first base.
Oakland earned the walk-off win in the opener when Jessie Munson doubled home Shannon Carr with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Cleveland State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in game two with a run in the top of the second inning. Tucker reached on an infield single to open the inning and advanced to second when Alyssa Rose reached on a bunt single. Both runners moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Hallie Ward and Tucker scored the first run of the second game on a wild pitch.
Oakland scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and added a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend the lead to 3-1, but the Vikings would respond.
Lindsay Ward opened the Vikings sixth inning with a single and came around to score when Ries followed with a double to cut the lead to 3-2.
Pinch-runner Talia Minisall scooted to third base on a wild pitch and scored to tie the game when Rose dumped a single into rightfield.
Hanna Griffin pitched around a pair of tight spots in both the sixth and seventh innings to force extra frames, but the Grizzlies scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning on a Viking error.
Cleveland State returns to action this weekend as it hosts Wright State for a three-game series beginning on Friday (April 26). The Vikings and Raiders will square off at 4 p.m. on Friday and then play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday (April 27).