MIAMI – The Cleveland State softball team posted back-to-back strong efforts as the Vikings fell to the B1G Ten's Penn State and the MAC's Buffalo on the opening day of the Panther Invitational on Friday. CSU dropped the opener to UB, 4-1, and followed it up with another close defeat to Penn State by a 4-2 margin.
GAME ONE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Cleveland State – 1, Buffalo – 4 (seven innings)
LOCATION: FIU Softball Stadium – Miami, Florida
RECORDS: Cleveland State 4-2 (0-0 Horizon), Buffalo 1-0 (0-0 MAC)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Both Aly Packish and Melissa Holzopfel went 2-for-3 on the opening game as the two combined for four of CSU's six hits.
- Courtney Fernette wrapped things up 1-for-3 with an RBI.
- Kiera Frascone finished 1-of-3 as she held the sixth hit overall for the Vikes.
- Holzopfel ended with a tough-luck loss in the circle as she went 5 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts and three earned runs against.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- CSU jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after the top of the first.
- The Vikes were then able to blank the Bulls over the first three innings of the game.
- A two-run bomb in the bottom of the fourth gave Buffalo its first lead of the game at 2-1.
- UB added another two runs in the bottom of the sixth to seal the 4-1 victory.
GAME TWO BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Cleveland State – 2, Penn State – 4 (seven innings)
LOCATION: FIU Softball Stadium – Miami, Florida
RECORDS: Cleveland State 4-3 (0-0 Horizon), Penn State 4-2 (0-0 B1G)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Frascone continued to swing a hot bat in the second game of the day as she went a perfect 3-of-3 with an RBI and a run scored. She also added a week to reach base safely in all four plate appearances against the Nittany Lions.
- Holzopfel went 2-for-4 at the dish while Brooke Albaugh added the only other Vikings hit.
- Becky Hurosky knocked in the other Vikes run.
- Sydney Bajusz recorded a stolen base.
- It was the second straight game that CSU posted just six hits in a contest.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- PSU jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the top half of the first, and CSU answered right back with a run of its own to knot things up at one, after one.
- Cleveland State was able to get ahead again off an RBI by single by Frascpme to retake a 2-1 lead.
- It was all Penn State from that point on as the team racked up three runs in a row to retake a 4-2 advantage.
- The Vikings tried to get the rally caps going in the bottom of the seventh, and pushed a run across, but in the end it was a little too much as Penn State closed out the 4-2 win.
NEXT UP
Cleveland State will look to bounce back against host Florida International on Saturday. First pitch is set for 12:30 PM ET.
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