April 17, 2005
CLEVELAND - Propelled by a pair of Amanda Cody home runs, Wright State claimed the rubber contest of the three-game Horizon League series from Cleveland State, 6-4, on Sunday afternoon. The Vikings won the first game on Saturday, but dropped the next two contests, stranding a total of 20 runners.
The Raiders got on the board in the first, using a hit, a stolen base a wild pitch and an RBI single from starting pitcher Amanda Cody to take a 1-0 advantage. Cody furthered her own cause in the third, launching a two-run home run to center field.
Cleveland State finally broke through in the fifth, as Jackie Cornelius led off with a single, stole second and eventually scored on a groundout.
Wright State pushed the lead to 5-1 in the sixth, plating two on a Vanessa Hall double. The inning was fueled in part by a costly Viking error.
CSU answered with two runs of its own in the bottom of the inning to draw within 5-3. Starting pitcher Grace Luginbuhl led things off with a single up the middle and scored when Michele Penney followed with her first triple of the season. Cornelius then singled in Penney two batters later.
Cody added an insurance run in the top of the seventh with a solo homer to left center. The Vikings got a run back in their final at-bat on a RBI double by Penney, but could get no closer.
Cody scattered eight hits, walked three and struck out five to improve to 5-6 on the year. Luginbuhl also gave up eight hits while fanning four to fall to 5-11.
Penney and Cornelius both finished with two hits, while Cody went 3-for-4 with four RBI.
"We are playing very tentatively on defense and just not making good choices," CSU head coach Julie Jones said. "We have to start playing better defense or we're going to continue losing games like this. On the positive side, I am glad to see our offense continue to improve though."
Cleveland State is in action again when the Vikings host Youngstown State on Tuesday, April 19 in a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m. at Viking Field. Admission is free of charge.
