Cleveland State vs. Norfolk State
Friday, March 5 | 3 p.m. | 5 p.m.
NSU Softball Field | Norfolk, Va.
3 p.m. | Live Stats | Watch
5 p.m. | Live Stats | Watch
Cleveland State vs. Norfolk State
Saturday, March 6 | 12 p.m. | 2 p.m.
NSU Softball Field | Norfolk, Va.
12 p.m. | Live Stats | Watch
2 p.m. | Live Stats | Watch
SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State Vikings softball team ends a two-week hiatus with a four-game set against Norfolk State on the road on Friday and Saturday. The series continues a 12-game road trip that culminates next weekend with a pair of doubleheaders at Purdue Fort Wayne to open #HLSB play. The Vikes are coming off a successful trip to Charleston, South Carolina that saw them split a twin bill against Charleston Southern before recording a two-game sweep of College of Charleston.
SCOUTING NORFOLK STATE
The Spartans carry a 4-6 mark into the weekend, including a four-game split against Horizon League foe Youngstown State. All 10 of Norfolk State's games have been played in friendly territory at NSU Softball Field. Cleveland State has won both of its previous matchups against the Spartans with the most recent meeting coming in 2007, a 9-0 Vikings blowout.
TERRIFIC TRIO
Each member of Cleveland State's three-pitcher rotation consisting of Hanna Griffin, Taylor Betz and Jenna Watts owns a sub-2.00 ERA and ranks among the top five #HLSB pitchers in the category, headlined by Watts' 1.20 mark. Griffin (1.72) and Betz (1.88) have served as the primary starters while Watts has made a start and logged a pair of appearances out of the bullpen. Betz leads the Vikings with 18 strikeouts.
LEADING THE WAY
Senior Sydney Bajusz paces the Vikings in batting average (.357), on-base percentage (.400), RBI (5), runs scored (6), hits (10), doubles (3), and home runs (tied, 1). She ranks at or near the top of the Horizon League in nearly all of those categories and owns the league lead in total hits.
SWIPING BAGS
Freshman Kiera Frascone is playing a key role early in her career, logging a Horizon League-best five stolen bases on five attempts. Frascone has gone 9-28 (.321) at the dish while drawing a pair of walks compared to only four strikeouts. She went 2-4 with a pair of stolen bases in a home game against Bowling Green on February 13.
CLUTCH HITTING
The Vikings have been helped by some timely offense with runners in scoring position through two weeks of non-conference play. Bajusz (4-6, .667), Duncan (4-8, .500), Frascone (3-6, .500) and Gabby Shackelford (2-5, .400) have all had success with runners primed to reach home. As a team, Cleveland State is batting .281 with runners in scoring position.
FILLING UP THE TROPHY CASE
Griffin and Taylor Duncan were named Horizon League Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively, following the weekend in Charleston, giving the Vikings four individual #HLSB honors through two weeks of action. Griffin tossed back-to-back complete games, including a shutout, while Duncan recovered from a slow start with a 6-12 (.500) performance at the plate with a pair of doubles and three RBI. Duncan is riding a five-game hitting streak, batting .438 with three multi-hit outings during that stretch. Griffin and Duncan join Bajusz and Betz as Vikings with 2021 Horizon League weekly awards.
UP NEXT
The Vikes kick off league play with a four-game road series against Purdue Fort Wayne on March 12-13 before returning from the month-long road swing to host IUPUI in a pair of doubleheaders from March 19-20.
