QUICK HITS
- Kelly Hysong went 3-for-4 with a home run and an RBI against Ball State
- Riley Ries had a double and an RBI versus Ball State
- Mackenzie Tucker went 1-for-3 against UNC Wilmington
- Kelly Hysong worked 2.0 innings of scoreless relief against UNC Wilmington
GAME RECAP
JACKSONVILLE -- Junior Kelly Hysong went 4-for-8 with a home run, but Cleveland State fell to UNC Wilmington and Ball State on the opening day of the Jacksonville/North Florida Spring Break Challenge on Friday at the UNF Softball Field. The Vikings lost to UNC Wilmington 4-0 and then dropped a 4-2 decision to Ball State.
Hysong went 1-for-4 versus UNC Wilmington and then was 3-for-4 with a home run versus Ball State. She also tallied 8.0 innings combined in the circle as she pitched 2.0 innings of scoreless relief versus UNC Wilmington and then pitched all six innings versus Ball State.
Mackenzie Tucker picked up a base hit against UNC Wilmington, while Riley Ries and Jordan Humitz had hits versus Ball State.
Cleveland State, which dropped to 3-12 on the season, could not get its offense untracked against UNC Wilmington. The Vikings were held to just two hits, but did miss out on several scoring opportunities.
After UNC Wilmington scored a run in the first inning and two more in the third inning, CSU would threaten in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Hysong doubled and Aly Packish drew a walk to put runners on first and second, but a line out ended the CSU threat.
The Seahawks upped the lead to 4-0 in the fifth inning before the Vikings mounted another threat in the sixth inning. With one out, Ries drew a walk and one out later Humitz reached via the free pass but a fielder's choice ended the inning for CSU.
Hanna Griffin started against the Seahawks and worked 5.0 innings and permitted three earned runs, while Hysong worked a perfect 2.0 innings with three strikeouts.
Cleveland State fared better offensively against Ball State, but still left eight runners on base.
Ball State jumped out to a 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and second innings before Cleveland State got on the scoreboard in the fifth inning.
Paige Hartley began the inning by reaching on an error and advanced to to second when Hysong singled. CSU loaded the bases when Lindsay Ward was hit by a pitch and scored its first run of the day when Ries drew a walk to bring home Hartley. The Vikings left the bases loaded on a groundout to end the frame.
Ball State answered with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to increase the lead to 4-1.
Hysong blasted her team-leading fifth homer of the season leading off the top of the seventh inning to cut the lead to 4-2.
Cleveland State will continue play in the Spring Break Challenge on Saturday (March 9) when it faces Charleston Southern and La Salle.
