HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Cleveland State Vikings softball team dropped their series-opening game to Northern Kentucky by a 6-3 score before Taylor Betz threw her first career complete-game shutout in a 1-0 victory to cap off the twinbill.
With the win in game two, the Vikings remain tied with the Norse in the #HLSB standings with identical 4-8 records.
Game One Recap - Norse 6, Vikings 3
Aly Packish hit a go-ahead two-run single up the middle in the fifth inning, but Northern Kentucky plated four runs over the final two frames to take game one of the four-game weekend set.
The Norse started the scoring with an RBI double in the first, but Courtney Fernette answered back the following inning, depositing a 1-1 pitch over the fence in right center field for her first home run of the campaign.
After Northern Kentucky moved on top 2-1 in the bottom of the second, the Vikings rallied for their first lead on Packish's two-out RBI single. Kaelin Ettinger singled before Jenna Deang beat out the throw on a bunt attempt to put a pair of Vikings on base. Both runners advanced on a passed ball before scoring on Packish's hit.
The 3-2 lead was short-lived as the Norse recorded an RBI double and a two-run homer for a 6-3 edge in the bottom of the fifth. Kiera Frascone logged Cleveland State's lone hit of the final two innings on a two-out single in the seventh.
Torrie Jenkins tossed her second complete game in the circle, surrendering six runs on eight hits while striking out a pair but falling to 2-4 on the season. Frascone reached base twice, going 1-3 with a walk.
Game Two Recap - Vikings 1, Norse 0
Later in the afternoon, Cleveland State shut out a Horizon League opponent for the first time since a 1-0 win over IUPUI on April 20, 2018 thanks to Betz's gem. The junior allowed only three hits while striking out five and walking three across seven stellar innings of work.
Betz held the Norse to an 0-9 clip with runners on base and 1-7 with two outs on the board while stranding five in what was one of the most impressive starts of her career.
After Fernette found the game's first hit with a double to right center in the second inning, Sydney Bajusz swung away on a 3-1 count in the third frame, lining her fourth homer deep to right field for a 1-0 edge.
In the bottom of the same inning, Kiera Frascone made one of Cleveland State's best defensive plays of the year. With a runner on second base, Frascone made a diving catch on a ball hit to shallow right center before winding up an accurate throw to Taylor Duncan at third to snag the runner attempting to advance. It marked the Vikings' second double play of the season and first in conference play.
Betz faced one over the minimum through three innings before the Norse advanced a runner to third in the fourth inning. A swinging strikeout ended the threat and maintained the Viking lead.
Cleveland State had runners at second and third with only one out in the seventh, but a strikeout followed by a foulout prevented any potential insurance runs.
Northern Kentucky's Kendyl McKeough singled with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and shfited into scoring position on a wild pitch, but Betz invoked a game-ending flyout down the right field line to seal the Vikings' win.
Cleveland State totaled only three hits in the win but improved to 4-8 in #HLSB. Fernette and designated player Gabby Shackelford both went 1-2 with a walk.
UP NEXT
The Vikings and Norse wrap up the four-game weekend series tomorrow afternoon. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 12:00 p.m.
