April 19, 2003
CHICAGO - The Cleveland State softball earned a split with perennial conference power UIC on Friday. The win over the Flames ended and 11-game loosing streak dating back to May 3, 1997.
In the first game UIC took it to the Vikings beating them 8-3. Junior first baseman Alycia Creese went 2-for-3 with five RBI to help lead host UIC to the victory in the opener of the doubleheader atFlames Field on Friday afternoon.
Sophomore third baseman Sara Hernandez went 1-for-3 with her third homer of the season - a two-run shot in the bottom of the first inning - along with two runs scored. Aguilar (8-13), who won her 17th straight Horizon League decision, scattered five hits and struck out eight batters for the complete-game victory in the opener.
Cleveland State hurler Lindsay Gervais (Bucyrus, Ohio/Colonel Crawford) was tagged for the loss, as she only went 1/3 of an inning, allowing four runs and four hits. However Stephanie Taylor (Wintersville, Ohio/Indian Creek) and Kaitlin Guyette (Mantua, Ohio/Crestwood) each had a hit and a RBI for Cleveland State in the opener.
In the nightcap the Vikings came roaring back as starter J.J. Thornberry (Marion, Ohio/Elgin) picked up the complete-game victory, allowing three runs and five hits while striking out three batters.
The Viking Offense was lead by rightfielder Lindsay Ball (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary) who went 2-for-2 with three RBI to push the Vikings to the 6-3 victory in the nightcap. Kortney Spidell (Strasburg, Ohio/Strasburg) also turned in a good offensive effort in the second game recording two RBI.
With the split, the Vikings are 14-19 on the campaign and 4-5 in league play, while UIC moves to 15-30 overall and 7-3 in Horizon League action.
The Vikings will be in action again on Monday as they head to Akron to take on the Zips in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. The next Viking Home game will come until they play host to Bowling Green on April 29 beginning at 4 p.m.
