Cleveland State vs. Youngstown State
Tuesday, April 6 | 3:00 p.m. | 5:30 p.m.
Viking Field | Cleveland, Ohio
3:00 p.m. | Watch | Live Stats
5:00 p.m. | Watch | Live Stats
SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State Vikings softball team begins a stretch of 10 straight games against the current top three teams in the #HLSB standings with a doubleheader against Youngstown State on Tuesday. The Vikes (9-17, 4-10), who had a scheduled four-game matchup with Detroit Mercy cancelled over the weekend, dropped three of four to Northern Kentucky in their most recent series on March 26-27. In the lone win, junior Taylor Betz (3-4) tossed her first career shutout with a seven-inning, three-hit effort that saw her punch out five batters. Sydney Bajusz was responsible for the only run of the ballgame with a two-out homer over the right field fence in the third inning. Cleveland State nearly notched a series split but fell 6-5 in walk-off fashion in the third game of the set, tying the game at five runs apiece on a clutch RBI hit from Courtney Fernette in the seventh inning before the Norse scored on an infield error to claim a walk-off win.
SCOUTING YOUNGSTOWN STATE
The Penguins (18-8, 11-3) are leading the Horizon League and have won 11 of their last 14 games, including three shutouts during that span. Avrey Schumacher's .378 batting average leads a group of five Youngstown State batters hitting above .300 while Nikki Saibene leads the Penguins in RBI (20), homers (four) and doubles (eight). In the circle, Maddi Lusk has compiled a 2.21 ERA over 14 outings, including nine starts and seven complete games, while Ellie Buffenberger has struck out 109 in 74.2 innings.
AGAINST THIS OPPONENT
Cleveland State has taken on Youngstown State more than any other opponent in program history, posting a 53-63 mark across 116 matchups. The Penguins have controlled the series as of late, recording nine straight victories.
BOMBS AWAY
The Vikings are tied for second in the conference with 19 homers on the season. Sydney Bajusz and Torrie Jenkins have combined for over half of Cleveland State's blasts with five each and while Aly Packish has four. Gabby Shackelford has also homered twice while freshman Alexa Sieger and Mackenzie Tucker have hit their first career bombs this season.
1-2 PUNCH
Juniors Hanna Griffin and Taylor Betz have anchored Cleveland State's rotation, tying for the team lead with nine starts each. Griffin has thrown 56.0 innings while compiling a 3.25 ERA and striking our a career-best 2.25 per seven innings. Betz is coming off her first-ever shutout and has shown a strong ability to work out of jams, notching a career-best 3.54 ERA while allowing only two homers over 55.1 innings of work. Betz is responsible for 40 of the Vikings' 79 total punchouts.
HIT THE ROAD
After Tuesday's contests, the Vikings will play 12 of their next 16 games on the road, culminating in a four-game series against Youngstown State to close the month of April. Cleveland State's regular season will wrap up on May 7-8 with a pair of doubleheaders against Robert Morris at Viking Field.
THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
With only two seniors on the roster, the Vikings rely heavily on young players, namely a freshman class that has produced multiple contributors. Torrie Jenkins has been one of the most versatile players in the lineup, hitting .392 with four homers and nine RBI while throwing two complete games in the circle during conference play. Jenna Deang has appeared in 23 games while playing multiple positions in the infield.
Additionally, Alexa Sieger has seen time as an infielder in addition to serving as the designated player and has nine RBI, three doubles and a homer over 20 appearances. In the circle, Jenna Watts has provided some valuable innings and threw a complete game in only her second career start on February 13 against Bowling Green.
RISING IN THE HORIZON OVERALL – IN THE CIRCLE
Hanna Griffin ranks within the top 10 in the league in wins (four) and ERA (3.25) while Taylor Betz is ninth with 40 strikeouts. Jenna Watts and Torrie Jenkins are two of eight #HLSB pitchers to record a save.
RISING IN THE HORIZON OVERALL - AT THE PLATE
Collectively, the Vikes are tied for second in homers (19), fourth in stolen bases (25), fifth in RBI (93) and walks (63), and sixth in runs scored (101), and tied for second in stolen bases (23).
HORIZON LEAGUE WEEKLY AWARDS
Hanna Griffin and Taylor Duncan were named Horizon League Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively, on Feb. 23 , giving the Vikings four individual #HLSB honors through two weeks of action. In doubleheaders against Charleston Southern and College of Charleston, Griffin tossed back-to-back complete games, including a shutout, while Duncan hit at a 6-12 (.500) clip at the plate with a pair of doubles and three RBI. Griffin and Duncan joined Bajusz and Betz as Vikings with 2021 Horizon League weekly awards.
