May 9, 2002
Dayton - The Cleveland State softball team advanced in the winner's bracket of the 2002 Horizon League Tournament Thursday by beating Wright State 4-2 at the University of Dayton's Stuart Field.
The fifth-seeded Vikings move on to play top-seeded Illinois-Chicago (39-10). Due to poor field conditions at Wright State and less-than-favorable weather, the teams will square off Friday at a time and site yet to be determined.
The Vikings, who have won seven of their last eight outings and three in a row, broke open a 2-2 tie in the top of the seventh. With one out, second baseman Lindsay Ball reached on a walk and then advance to third when Raider third baseman Amber Price overthrew first base on a sacrifice bunt by Kortney Spidell. Ball scored on a fielder's choice by Tiffany Stocker. With two outs, shortstop Michelle Beightol delivered an RBI double to center to score Spidell.
CSU, 20-22-1, got on the board in the top of first as Jackie Cornelius, the second batter, was hit by a pitch, stole second and then scored on a double by Stephanie Taylor. The Raiders answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second off of CSU starter Jessica Miller to take the 2-1 lead.
However, the Vikings tied up things in the fourth when WSU starter Kristin Bultinick walked Beightol to lead off the inning. Beightol stole second and then moved to third on a single by Jackie Miller before Jessica Miller's sacrifice fly drove her home.
Spidell (11-9) picked up the win for CSU, going three innings without giving up a run or a hit. Bultinick took the loss for the Raiders.
