May 2, 2001
The Cleveland State Vikings (17-31, 3-9 MCC) finished the season on a strong note, sweeping Youngstown State in a doubleheader at Viking Field. CSU knocked out 21 hits en route to 6-2 and 8-3 victories. Tiffany Stocker's second hit in the nightcap, her 60th of the season, broke Tenille Whiteside's six-year record for hits in a season.
In the first game the Vikes jumped on the Penguins early, scoring four runs in the second inning. Stephanie Taylor started the inning with a double to right center. Jessica Miller followed with a double of her own to the gap in left center to score Taylor. Tiffany Nofziger singled and Michelle Beightol doubled to score Miller and Nofziger. CSU added the fourth run with a sacrifice bunt by Jen Paul.
CSU followed the second inning with two more runs in the third. After Lindsay Gervais walked to start the inning, Jessica Miller singled to drive her in. Nofziger did some more damage with a double to right to score Miller.
Jessica Miller threw another solid game for the Vikings, winning her ninth of the season. Miller struck out eight in seven innings pitched. She also went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.
In the second game the Vikings benefited from three Penguin errors that gave CSU four unearned runs. Again CSU jumped to an early lead, grabbing a run in each of the first three innings.
However, YSU charged back in the fifth and loaded the bases with one out. Joleen Estok singled one run in and Amber Smith hit a sacrifice fly to center to drive in another run. Pitcher Kim Evans got Mistine Hamilton to groundout, but the Penguins knotted the score at three apiece.
Yet in the bottom of the inning CSU took charge of the game with the help of some costly errors. Taylor walked to start the inning and Heather Hlasko pinch ran. Jessica Miller laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Hlasko to second. Nofziger walked and Beightol flied out to center. With two outs YSU fell apart on defense. Lisa Horton hit a grounder to short that was misplayed to leave the bases loaded. Jen Paul also hit one to short and the throw to first went wild, scoring two runs. Stocker and Gervais then hit back-to-back singles for an RBI each.
Evans finished the game for her eighth win, striking out five in seven innings.
