Cleveland State Begins 2021 Campaign with Four-Game Series Against Bowling Green - Cleveland State University

Posted: Feb 11, 2021

THE HEAD COACH
The Vikings are under the direction of third-year head coach Amy Kyler, who led the squad to an 8-11 mark in a shortened 2020 season following a three-win improvement in 2018.

THE RETURNERS
Cleveland State brings back several key contributors while several young players figure to be in the mix for playing time. Sydney Basujz is one of only two seniors on the roster and paced the Vikings in RBI (15), home runs (four) and at-bats (63) in last year's 19-game season.

Taylor Betz and Hanna Griffin return as the Vikings' most experienced hurlers after combining to throw over half of Cleveland State's total innings a year ago and logging 11 combined starts. Griffin tossed four complete games and compiled a 3.13 ERA while Betz allowed fewer than two runs in three of her six starts as a sophomore.

Junior Mackenzie Tucker also returns after posting a team-best .409/.458/.614 slash line as a sophomore. Tucker drew four walks compared to only three strikeouts across 44 at-bats.

Aly Packish, another member of a seven-player junior class, appeared to be headed to a breakout sophomore campaign before last season's cancellation, recording a pair of homers and 10 RBI to go along with a .281 batting average.

THE WEEKEND SERIES
Cleveland State is looking for its first win to open Horizon League play since it began 2013 #HLWSB play with a 2-1 victory over Wright State. A win would also mark the Vikings' first season-opening "W" since topping Toledo 4-3 to kick off the 2015 schedule.

UP NEXT
Following this weekend, the Vikings will not play at home until hosting IUPUI in a four-game weekend series March 19-20. Cleveland State begins a 12-game road trip next weekend with back-to-back doubleheaders against the College of Charleston and Charleston Southern.