April 9, 2001
Despite the cold weather and strong winds, the Vikings (7-11) beat Niagara 4-0 and 5-1 to give Head Coach Julie Jones career wins 100 and 101. Strong performances on the mound by Jessica Miller and Kim Evans helped the Vikes earn the home-opener wins.
In the first game CSU got off to a quick start. Junior Tiffany Stocker led off the bottom of the first inning with a slap-bunt single. Stocker, the Vikings' all-time steals leader, stole second base on the first pitch to sophomore Lindsay Gervais. It was Stocker's 13th swipe of the season. Gervais moved Stocker to third with her sixth sacrifice of the year. She scored on a wild pitch by Niagara's Theresa Ditlow to put CSU up, 1-0.
The Vikings scored another run in the third after Gervais doubled home Jackie Richards, who singled to start the inning. In the fourth inning freshman Michelle Beightol singled and stole second. Sophomore Stephanie Taylor grabbed her second hit of the game with a single up the middle to move Beightol to third. Taylor, a Second-Team All-MCC pick last year, advanced to second after a throw to third base. Senior Lisa Horton then ripped a double to right center to score both Beightol and Taylor.
While the Vikings were able to manufacture runs on offense, they also got a strong outing from sophomore Jessica Miller on the mound. Miller threw seven complete for her first shutout of the season. In fact, Miller did not surrender a hit until the sixth inning. She was also helped with a strong defensive showing from the Vikings. Coming in to the game with 29 errors, it is an area Jones hopes to improve in. But Gervais threw out Jodi Bowers from her knees after a diving stop in the sixth. Two plays later junior Jackie Richards threw out Brooke Bradburn at first from right field.
In the nightcap CSU got another strong pitching performance, this time from senior Kim Evans. Evans came within one out of a no-hitter. She retired the first two batters in the seventh and then walked the next two. Lindsey Costello took a single to right for Niagara and drove in the Purple Eagles' only run of the game.
CSU started quickly on offense again, earning one run in the first inning off an error by Niagara. In the fourth the Vikes added two more unearned runs off another Niagara error. Horton reached base after an errant throw from third, and Stocker reached after being hit by a pitch. A wild pitch moved the runners up a base and a single by senior Tiffany Nofziger drove the pair in.
In the fifth Beightol grabbed her third hit of the ballgame, a double to center. After advancing to third on an error, Beightol scored her team high 11th run of the season on a groundout by Taylor.
