May. 1, 2005
CHICAGO - Cleveland State built a seven-run advantage and then held on at the end to win the rubber game of its series with UIC by an 8-7 margin. With their first-ever series win over the Flames, the Vikings improve to 17-23 overall and 6-5 in the Horizon League, while dropping league-leading UIC to 35-23, 11-4. Junior J.J. Thornberry picked up the win in the circle and collected a career-high four hits to pace CSU.
The Vikings, who entered the weekend with just four wins in their previous 33 meetings with the Flames, took 2-of-3 games by scoring 22 runs -- just three fewer than in posting a 1-11 mark versus UIC over the past four seasons. CSU trailed in only three innings over the weekend and wrapped out eight extra base hits while stealing nine bases.
Amber Lowe got things started in the first inning with a leadoff single. After advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt, she moved to third on an error and scored on a wild pitch.
The Vikings added three more in the second, two courtesy of another error and another on a RBI infield single by Michele Penney. CSU pushed the margin to 5-0 in their next at-bat as Thornberry doubled and came around to score on a triple by Whitney Willard.
After a Thornberry solo homer in the top of fifth, the Flames finally got on board in their half of the inning with a lone run. A solo home run by Penney and a Thornberry RBI single put the Vikings up 8-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth.
That's when UIC finally came to life, scoring three runs on three hits, a pair of walks, a wild pitch and an error.
After the Flames loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh, reliever Christina Swierz came in and induced an infield pop out, before Becky Moran doubled off the left field wall to drive in two. That's when things got interesting. UIC's Joyce Cathey followed with a sacrifice fly to right field. Pinch-runner Nikki Rogers tagged up from third and scored on the play, but Moran was gunned down by Shannon Graves trying to advance to third to end the game.
Thornberry gave up five hits and seven runs (five earned) in 6.0 innings of work to improve to 5-6 on the year. Swierz recorded the last three outs to pick up her first career save.
Brittany McIntyre surrendered 10 hits and eight runs (five earned) in 6.0 innings to fall to 17-12.
In addition to Thornberry's career day at the plate, Lowe, Penney and Willard each collected two hits for the Vikings.
"I was impressed -- we came out today knowing we could win," head coach Julie Jones said. "J.J. threw very well through six innings and we got it done again offensively. We just keep getting better every day and continue to find ways to overcome all of the injuries."
Winners of 11 of its last 15 contests, Cleveland State closes out its nine-game road swing with a pair of mid-week single-game affairs. On Tuesday (May 3), the Vikings will travel to Youngstown State for a 4:00 p.m. contest, followed by a 7:00 p.m. tilt against Kent State on Thursday (May 5) at Firestone Stadium in Akron.
Cleveland State will then wrap-up the regular season by hosting Loyola for a three-game set on May 7-8 at Viking Field.
