LONGWOOD, Florida – The Cleveland State Vikings softball team split their matches on Friday (March 6), as the team began a 14-game stretch at the Spring Break Tournament in Florida. Cleveland State fell in its first match of the day, 5-4, to Charleston Southern, before bouncing back with a 10-6 victory over N.C. A&T in its second contest of the game.

Game One Recap:

Charleston Southern jumped on the board early in the top of the first, to take a 1-0 lead heading into the bottom frame. The Vikings exploded for a four-run inning, taking a 4-1 lead after one.

Sydney Bajusz got on base first for Cleveland State, working a walk. Aly Packish laid down a sacrifice bunt, advancing Bajusz to second base. Kelly Hysong then smacked a single through the left side, reaching first base. With runners at the corners, Becky Hurosky smacked a two-run double to right center, scoring both Hysong and Bajusz. Lindsay Ward joined in the fun in the first inning, notching a double to left field, scoring Hurosky.

That would be all of the scoring for the Vikings in their first game, while Charleston Southern would tack on two runs in the second inning, one in the fifth and one in the seventh inning to win the ballgame, 5-4.

Game Two Recap:

Cleveland State and N.C. A&T traded runs throughout the first two innings. The Aggies scored two runs in the top of the first and the Vikings responded with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Lindsay Ward homered to center field and Sydney Bajusz drove in an RBI single.

N.C. A&T then scored three runs in the top of the second inning and Cleveland State responded again, capped off by a Kelly Hysong triple, scoring Aly Packish.

Cleveland State struck next in the bottom of the fifth frame, with Courtney Fernette scoring off of a wild pitch.

The Vikings tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, registering a 10-5 lead heading into the final inning.

The Aggies notched one run in the top of the seventh inning, but it wouldn't be enough, as Cleveland State came away victorious, 10-6.

Up Next:

The Vikings will be back on the field beginning Saturday, March 7 for another double header. Cleveland State will face off against Bethune-Cookman at 11:15 a.m. and then Creighton at 1:30 p.m.