CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland State Vikings softball team notched a weekend split in a doubleheader against visiting Robert Morris on Saturday afternoon at Viking Field, falling 7-3 in the opening game before holding on for a 3-2 win to finish their 2021 season.
GAME ONE - Colonials 7, Vikings 3
A four-run fourth inning by Robert Morris proved to be the difference in the first contest as the Colonials cruised to a 7-3 victory.
Robert Morris' first four batters reached as the visitors jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning. The Colonials capitalized on a two-base outfield error by the Vikings to plate an unearned run and force the Vikings to play catch up for the remainder of the ballgame.
Cleveland State starter Alexa Sieger retired six straight over the second and third frames before the Colonials blew the game open at 7-0 after scoring on a bases-loaded hit by pitch, a fielder's choice, a single and a wild pitch.
The Vikings found their first hit on Kiera Frascone's bloop single to right field to lead off the bottom of the fourth. Frascone stole second before Mackenzie Tucker joined her on the basepaths with another bloop single.
Courtney Fernette cleared the bases with a two-run RBI double to the gap in right center, making the score 7-2. After Fernette advanced to third on a flyout, the Vikings caught a break when Gabby Shackelford struck out swinging but reached first on a wild pitch, allowing Fernette to cross home plate for the Vikings' third run of the inning.
Torrie Jenkins, who took over for Sieger midway through the fourth inning, silenced Robert Morris to the tune of 3.2 shutout frames, allowing only three hits while walking a pair and striking out three.
Fernette was responsible for the Vikings' only two RBI of the game, going 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
GAME TWO - Vikings 3, Colonials 2
Aly Packish broke a 1-1 tie with a clutch two-run RBI single in the bottom of the sixth as Cleveland State held on for a 3-2 win to close the season.
Vikings starter Hanna Griffin tossed a complete game for the second consecutive day, improving to 6-8 on the year while being charged with a pair of runs and scattering nine hits while battling through seven innings.
Griffin struck out the side in the first inning, setting the stage for Cleveland State's go-ahead run in the bottom of the frame. Frascone led off with an infield single before taking second on a sacrifice bunt by Packish and advancing to third on an infield error. Frascone went on to score on a wild pitch with two outs for a 1-0 lead.
Griffin cruised through the second and third innings before the Colonials recorded the tying run with a two-out RBI double in the fourth, making it a 1-1 contest.
The Vikings ran into a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning following a walk and back-to-back singles by Robert Morris. Griffin picked up the first out on a force at home before working out of the frame with a double play ball to third base when Kaelin Ettinger threw home for the out before Fernette fired over to first base in time to double up the Colonials.
With momentum suddenly shifted in their favor, the Vikings set up runners at second and third with only one out thanks to singles from Ettinger and Frascone. Packish smacked an 0-1 pitch to right field to score both runners, putting the Vikes on top 3-2.
Tucker followed with another single before Fernette walked to load the bases, but Robert Morris escaped with no further damage on a foulout and a strikeout.
The Colonials cut the lead in half at 3-2 on an RBI double in the seventh before loading the bases with two down, but Griffin ended the game with a flyout to right field to clinch a weekend split for the Vikings.
Frascone finished 2-for-3 out of the leadoff spot, scoring a pair of runs and stealing a base. The freshman finished the campaign in second in the Horizon League with 20 steals on the year.
Fernette had a solid game behind the dish, picking off a pair of runners at first while Packish batted at a 1-for-2 clip while driving in a pair of runs.
