MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The Cleveland State softball program swept its doubleheader against Robert Morris University on Saturday at North Athletic Complex as the Vikings won the first game in extras, 6-4, and followed it up with a 6-2 victory in the second game of the afternoon.
With the wins, Cleveland State is now 7-1 to begin Horizon League play this season and CSU currently sits in second place in the conference.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Cleveland State – 6, Robert Morris University – 4 (eight innings)
LOCATION: North Athletic Complex – Moon Township, Pennsylvania
RECORDS: Cleveland State 10-15 (6-1 Horizon), Robert Morris University 16-11 (5-1 Horizon)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Kaelin Ettinger finished a perfect 3-for-3 in the opening game with a run scored.
- Sydney Bajusz added a 1-for-4 day at the plate with a RBI and run scored.
- Mackenzie Tucker chipped in a RBI off a 1-for-4 opener.
- Becky Hurosky ended things with a game-high two RBI and a run scored off a 1-for-3 performance.
- Jenna Deang wrapped things up 1-for-4 with a RBI and run scored.
- Aly Packish also chipped in a RBI off a 1-for-4 opening game.
- Melissa Holzopfel went for another complete game with eight strikeouts over eight innings. She is now tied for third in the Horizon League with nine complete games and ranks second with 115 punchouts over 93 innings pitched.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Cleveland State got off to a hot start with two runs in the top of the first with a two-run bomb by Hurosky and another one in the top of the second off a solo-shot from Bajusz to jump ahead 3-0.
- Robert Morris fought back into the game with two runs in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit to 3-2.
- The Colonials got the tying run to cross the plate in the bottom of the sixth to knot the game at 3-3.
- After a scoreless seventh by both sides, the game went to extras.
- CSU broke out for three runs in the top of the eighth, highlighted by Deang and Tucker RBI singles as the Vikes took control of the contest again at 6-3.
- RMU would get one more runner to score, but Holzopfel slammed the door with the go-ahead run at the plate in the bottom of the eighth to preserve the 6-4 Viking victory.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Cleveland State – 6, Robert Morris University – 2 (seven innings)
LOCATION: North Athletic Complex – Moon Township, Pennsylvania
RECORDS: Cleveland State 11-15 (7-1 Horizon), Robert Morris University 16-12 (5-2 Horizon)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Courtney Fernette had a monster day at the dish as she finished 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored.
- Sydney Bajusz chipped in a 3-for-4 performance to go with a RBI and a run.
- Becky Hurosky added a RBI and two runs scored off a 2-for-3 showing.
- Sophie Spellman picked up the last Viking RBI of the game as she finished 1-for-3.
- Brooke Albaugh (1-for-4) also crossed the plate twice for CSU.
- Jenna Watts picked up her second win of the season to improve to 2-2 as she threw two scoreless innings in relief. She allowed just two hits and recorded a strikeout.
- Torrie Jenkins collected her first save of the year, and second of her career, as she went the final three frames with three hits, two runs (both unearned) and two punchouts.
- The CSU staff combined for zero earned runs and just six hits against in the victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- CSU started fast once again as a RBI-single up the middle by Bajusz gave the Vikes a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
- The Vikings added to their total with a bases-clearing, 3-RBI double by Fernette to push ahead 4-0 in the top of the third.
- Cleveland State added another two runs in the top of the fifth off a solo-shot by Hurosky and a RBI-poke down the left field line by Spellman to give the Vikes a 6-0 advantage.
- RMU was able to avoid the shutout with two unearned runs in the top of the sixth, but it would be all the Colonials could muster as CSU finished off the 6-2 win.
NEXT UP
CSU and RMU will finish the season-series with a single-game on Sunday, April 3. First pitch is currently set for noon, although weather could once again become a factor. Be on the lookout on the CSU Softball schedule page and the team's Twitter account for the latest updates.
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