BUIES CREEK, N.C. – For the second day in a row, the Cleveland State softball team played back-to-back solid games, but found itself on the wrong side of one-run defeats to Akron and Campbell at the Campbell Invitational on Saturday.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Cleveland State – 1, Akron – 2 (seven innings)
LOCATION: Amanda Littlejohn Stadium – Buies Creek, N.C.
RECORDS: Cleveland State 4-12 (0-0 Horizon), Akron 2-10 (0-0 MAC)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Melissa Holzopfel threw another complete game as she went six innings with six hits against and just two allowed runs (both earned). The freshman from Massillon, Ohio is now tied for first in the Horizon League with five complete games.
- Holzopfel added a 1-for-3 performance at the plate.
- Courtney Fernette (1-for-3) and Jenna Deang (1-for-2, R) contributed the other Viking hits.
- Aly Packish picked up the Vikes RBI on the contest.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Akron jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the first inning.
- CSU responded with Packish's sac fly in the top of the third to score Deang to half the lead to 2-1.
- The Vikes ran into a hot pitcher as Akron closed out a hitless final four frames to take the victory.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Cleveland State – 5, Campbell – 6 (seven innings)
LOCATION: Amanda Littlejohn Stadium – Buies Creek, N.C.
RECORDS: Cleveland State 4-13 (0-0 Horizon), Campbell 9-6 (0-0 Big South)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
-Maggie Kusmits had a game at the plate as she went 2-for-4 that included a solo shot, two RBI in total and a run scored.
- Aly Packish finished 2-of-3 with a walk and a run scored.
- Melisa Holzopfel contributed a 1-for-4 contest with a RBI and a run.
- Kaelin Ettinger (2-for-3), Sophie Spellman (1-for-4) and Jenna Deang (1-for-3, R) also contributed hits for the Vikes.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- CSU scored three runs to open the game on a Kusmits single to right field that scored Holzopfel and eventually Albaugh and Packish as the Vikes jumped ahead 3-0.
- Campbell answered back with a run in the bottom half of the first to make it 3-1.
- Holzopfel singled to second base to score Deang in the top of the second to put the Vikes ahead 4-1.
- The Fighting Camels came back again with another run in the bottom half of the inning to inch closer at 4-1.
- In the top of the third, Kusmits hit a no-doubter over the left field wall to push CSU ahead 5-2.
- Campbell was able to come back with one run in the fourth, two in the sixth and a walk-off run in the bottom of the seventh to escape with 6-5 victory.
NEXT UP
The Vikings will conclude the Campbell Invitational against Iona on Sunday. First pitch is set for 10:30 AM ET and fans can follow along with the live stats of the game here.
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