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Vikings Stay Hot, Sweep St. Francis

Vikings Stay Hot, Sweep St. Francis
Posted: Apr 21, 2005
Contact: Alan Ashby

April 21, 2005

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

LORETTO, Pa. - Cleveland State improved to 8-2 over its last 10 games, earning a sweep of Thursday's twin bill at St. Francis. Grace Luginbuhl tossed the Vikings' first shutout of the season in a 3-0 game one victory, before Michele Penney's late-inning heroics propelled CSU to a 4-2 win in eight innings in the night cap.

Luginbuhl dominated the opener, scattering five hits and two walks while striking out six to improve to 8-11. Jeanine Gargiuolo fell to 4-19 as she allowed 10 hits and a pair of runs while fanning six.

The Vikings got on the board in the fourth when Penney led off with a single and eventually came around to score on an error. Penney gave CSU some breathing room in the top of the seventh, driving in a pair with a two-out, bases loaded single.

In game two, the Red Flash scored a run in the first off Viking starter J.J. Thornberry and pushed another across in the fourth on a one-out, bases loaded walk. Luginbuhl came in and got out of the jam with a foul out and a strikeout.

With CSU trailing 2-1 in the top of the seventh, Penney led off with a double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kaitlin Guyette and came in with the tying run on a passed ball.

Shannon Graves started a two-out rally in the eighth by drawing a walk. Luginbuhl followed with a single and Penney then plated Graves with a single to right field. The Vikings added an insurance run on an RBI single by Guyette.

Luginbuhl (9-11) picked up the victory, tossing 4.2 scoreless and hitless innings in relief. She improved to 4-0 on the week, having surrendered just one earned run in 25.1 innings of work (0.28 ERA). Ashley Harlan (5-15) took the complete game loss, giving up seven hits and three earned runs.

Penney went 4-for-7 on the day, either scoring or driving in five of CSU's seven runs.

"We kept our errors to a minimum today and really got an outstanding effort from Grace today," CSU head coach Julie Jones noted. "We believe that we can win now and while we're not blowing people out, our offense is producing enough to win games."

Cleveland State continues on its 12-game road swing as the Vikings travel to Detroit for a three-game Horizon League series this weekend. On Saturday (April 23), the teams will square off in a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader followed by a single game at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday (April 24).