April 25, 2001
The Cleveland State softball team (15-26) split a doubleheader with Kent State Wednesday, winning the first game 2-0 and dropping the second, 2-0 in nine innings.
In the first game CSU got on top of Kent early and never looked back. The Vikings scored their two runs in the first inning and Jessica Miller took it from there in a 2-0 victory. Miller struck out four and allowed only three singles for her second shutout of the season.
CSU started the bottom of the first with Lindsay Gervais getting aboard on a one-out hit by pitch. Jackie Miller followed with a double to left to move Gervais to third. After a groundout Jessica Miller walked to load the bases. Senior Tiffany Nofziger came through with a single up the middle to drive in Gervais.
Michelle Beightol, who has hit in eight of her last nine games, also came through with a single up the middle to bring home Jackie Miller.
Kent threatened in the third as Carrie Eneix got on by an error at first by Nofziger. Miller struck out the next batter, but Marci Ridenbaugh singled to put two on. Shortstop Lisa Horton made a nice play on a grounder by Danielle Fincham to cut down the lead runner at third. Miller got the next batter to pop up for the last out.
The Flashes had something going in the sixth inning after a leadoff single from Fincham. However, catcher Stephanie Taylor mowed her down at second on a steal attempt.
In the nightcap game against Kent the Vikes went into extra-innings for the third consecutive series. CSU lost two extra-inning games to Illinois-Chicago and Ohio University, and faired no better against Kent State.
Kim Evans threw well for the Vikings, going eight shutout innings before the Flashes scored two in the ninth to win, 2-0. CSU also used solid defense to help Evans get out of jams. In the first inning Kent's Le Ann Fonner doubled down the left field line with two outs. Lea Dorto followed with a single while Fonner tried to score on the play. However, left fielder Michelle Beightol cut her down with a perfect throw to catcher Tiffany Nofziger. It was Beightol's 12th outfield assist of the season.
In the third inning with a runner on Dorto smacked one up the middle, but a diving Lisa Horton made the grab and tagged second for the third out. In the fourth inning right fielder Jackie Richards snagged a foul ball over the tarp and against the fence to start the inning.
Yet the Vikes couldn't get the offense going during the game. They had runners on second in five innings but couldn't drive them in. In the bottom of the seventh the Vikes threatened with the bases loaded and no outs, yet Kent pitcher Tracie Logar worked out of it.
