INDIANAPOLIS – The Cleveland State softball program pulled off the sweep over IUPUI with a doubleheader win over the Jaguars on Monday, a result that pushed the Vikings to the top of the Horizon League standings after the opening week of conference play.
GAME ONE - THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Cleveland State – 12, IUPUI – 9 (seven innings)
LOCATION: IUPUI Softball Complex – Indianapolis, Indiana
RECORDS: Cleveland State 6-14 (2-0 Horizon), IUPUI 2-19 (0-2 Horizon)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Mackenzie Tucker helped lead the charge on offense as she finished the opening game 2-for-3 with three runs scored, two RBI and two walks.
- Sophie Spellman also had a huge game with four runs scored off a 1-for-4 day at the plate.
- Sydney Bajusz added two RBI on a 2-of-4 performance.
- Jenna Deang finished with a game-high three hits as she went 3-for-4 at the dish. She also added a RBI and a run scored.
- Aly Packish went 1-for-4 with a walk and also plated the other Vikings RBI of the game.
- Torrie Jenkins picked up her first win of the season with six solid innings in relief. She registered three strikeouts to go against six hits and three runs (all earned).
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Cleveland State thought it started the game on fire as the Vikings plated six runs in the top half of the first inning.
- IUPUI responded with three runs in the bottom half of the frame and another six in the second innings to jump ahead 9-6.
- The Jaguars were shut out the rest of the way as CSU added three in the top of the third, two in the fourth and another in the sixth to close out the 12-9 win.
GAME TWO - THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Cleveland State – 1, IUPUI – 0 (eight innings)
LOCATION: IUPUI Softball Complex – Indianapolis, Indiana
RECORDS: Cleveland State 7-14 (3-0 Horizon), IUPUI 2-20 (0-3 Horizon)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Melissa Holzopfel picked up her fourth win of the season with a complete-game shutout as she went the distance over eight strong innings. The freshman standout allowed just four hits and struck out 11 batters. With the performance, she now leads the Horizon League in strikeouts (92) and is tied for second overall with six complete games.
- Aly Packish finished 1-for-3 with the lone Vikings RBI that she recorded in the top of the eighth.
- Mackenzie Tucker (1-for-2, BB), Alexa Sieger (1-for-2, BB) and Packish collected the three CSU hits.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The two sides played seven scoreless innings to start off the game.
- Packish was the hero in the top of the eighth with a deep fly ball to center field that scored Katie Holmes as CSU took a 1-0 lead.
- The Vikes slammed the door in the bottom half of the inning as Holzopfel retired the side in order to seal the 1-0 victory.
NEXT UP
Cleveland State returns for its first home-series of the season as the Vikings will host Purdue Fort Wayne for a single-game on Friday, March 18 and a doubleheader on Saturday, March 19. Friday's Horizon League contest is set for a 3 PM ET start while Saturday will have a first pitch of 1 PM and 3 PM.
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