Akron, OH-The Cleveland State softball team made the short trip south to take on Akron in a non-league game Monday afternoon. The Vikings fell to the Zips 9-1 in a game that ended in five innings due to the run rule.

Akron struck for three runs in the first inning behind three hits and two Cleveland State errors to take an early 3-0 lead.

Cleveland State got a run back in the second inning when Emma Gilkerson clubbed her first home run of the season over the left field wall to make it 3-1 Akron.

Melissa Holzopfel entered in relief of starter Torrie Jenkins and held the Zips off the scoreboard in the bottom of the second. Akron got the run back in the third when Sophia Wygast hit a solo shot of her own to make it 4-1.

Akron took control in the fourth as the Zips tallied four runs on four hits and an error to take an 8-1 advantage. Akron closed the game out in the fifth with a first and third steal of home to plate the final run and end the game.

Jenkins took the loss as the Vikings fall to 6-13 on the season. Cleveland State is set to host its first home games of the season at Viking Field this weekend as Oakland comes to town for a three-game weekend series starting on Friday.