April 21, 2007
CLEVELAND - Cleveland State saw its losing streak grow to five games with a pair of losses to Horizon-League-leading Loyola on Saturday afternoon at Viking Field. The Ramblers took advantage of a five-run first to claim the opener, 6-3, before winning the night cap, 2-1, on a run in the seventh.
In the first game, Loyola (15-15, 10-2 HL) took advantage of four hits, four stolen bases and a pair of CSU errors on botched rundown plays to push across five runs in their first at-bat.
The Vikings (19-11, 2-5 HL) quickly cut into the lead in their half of the inning, as junior Whitney Willard and freshman Amanda Burt led things off with a pair of singles and a pair of stolen bases. Both then came in to score on a double by sophomore Amanda Houchin.
Loyola tacked on a run in the third on back-to-back doubles by Tara Miller and Kristen Medrud, while CSU closed out the scoring in the sixth when Houchin reached on an error and scored on a double by senior Sarah Milosek.
Krista Crosson went the distance -- allowing seven hits -- to improve to 6-4.
Amanda Macenko (15-7) took the loss for the Vikings after surrendering 10 hits in her 16th complete game effort.
Willard paced the CSU offense with a pair of hits.
Game two turned into a pitcher's duel between Loyola's Amy Solava and the Vikings' Christina Swierz as both managed to continually wriggle out of jam after jam. The Ramblers stranded 11 baserunners in the game (at least one in every inning), while CSU left eight on base.
Loyola got on the board first, when the leadoff hitter reached on an error. Pinch runner Alexandra Trudnich then advanced to second on a wild pitch and came around to score on a single by Angie Funston.
The Vikings knotted the score in the third when Burt singled and came around to score two batters later on a triple by sophomore Christa Coppus.
The score would remain tied at one until the seventh when pinch hitter Lindsay O'Gean walked with two outs, stole second base and came around to score when the CSU second baseman lost a pop-up in the sun.
Solava (6-6) earned the win for the Ramblers, allowing six hits while striking out four.
Swierz (2-3) was the hard-luck loser, giving up eight hits and one earned run while fanning six.
Sophomore Danielle Young led the Vikings with a perfect 3-for-3 performance at the plate.
"I don't know what else to say at this point -- we keep finding new and creative ways to lose," CSU head coach Angie Nicholson said. "We just have to keep battling and eventually things will start going our way."
The teams close out their three-game series on Sunday at noon. In a ceremony prior to the game, CSU will honor seniors Sarah Milosek and Michele Penney.
