CLEVELAND – The Cleveland State softball program started its day with a heartbreaker but bounced back to split a Horizon League twinbill against visiting Northern Kentucky on Tuesday afternoon at Viking Field.
With the performance, CSU remains atop the conference standings and currently ranks third in the Horizon with a 8-3 conference record.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Cleveland State – 3, Northern Kentucky – 4 (nine innings)
LOCATION: Viking Field – Cleveland, Ohio
RECORDS: Cleveland State 11-17 (7-3 Horizon), Northern Kentucky 14-18 (4-6 Horizon)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Courtney Fernette went off for the Vikings with a perfect 2-for-2 day. She hit her second and third home runs of the season and added two runs and two RBI in total in the opener.
- Jenna Deang tied for the game-high in hits as she went 3-for-5 at the dish with a run scored.
- Becky Hurosky (1-for-4, RBI), Sydney Bajusz (1-for-3, BB) and Kaelin Ettinger (1-for-3, BB) also added hits for the Vikes.
- In the circle, Melissa Holzopfel recorded her 10th complete game of the season as she found herself on the wrong side of a tough-luck loss. She allowed eight hits and four runs (all earned) to go with 12 strikeouts and just a single walk.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Cleveland State continued its recent trend of getting off to hot starts as the Vikings put up one run in the bottom of the first off a Hurosky double down the right field line and another in the second on a solo-shot from Fernette to jump out to a 2-0 lead.
- It wasn't until the top of the fifth before the Norse could get anything going as they finally broke through to halve the Vikings advantage to 2-1.
- NKU struck again in the top of the seventh inning off a wild pitch to send the game to extras, tied at two.
- Northern Kentucky scored again to start the eighth inning to take a 3-2 edge.
- CSU answered right back in the bottom half of the frame as Fernette homered again to straightaway centerfield to tie the game at three.
- NKU snuck a run across the plate in the top of the ninth and held the Vikes scoreless to escape with the 4-3, extra-inning victory.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Cleveland State – 3, Northern Kentucky – 1 (seven innings)
LOCATION: Viking Field – Cleveland, Ohio
RECORDS: Cleveland State 12-17 (8-3 Horizon), Northern Kentucky 14-19 (4-7 Horizon)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Becky Hurosky continued her recent success at the plate as she went 1-for-3 with a RBI.
- Sophie Spellman wrapped up the afternoon with a 1-for-2 performance that included a run and a RBI.
- Kiera Frascone added a RBI with a 1-for-2 game.
- Aly Packish (1-for-3) and Kaelin Ettinger (1-for-2) also crossed the plate for CSU.
- Brooke Albaugh recorded the other hit for Cleveland State with a 1-for-3 showing.
- Taylor Betz improved to 2-0 on the year with the win with three innings pitched and just a lone unearned run allowed. She also had four strikeouts.
- Jenna Watts and Torrie Jenkins closed out the game with four scoreless innings between the two relief pitchers. Both allowed just a single hit while Watts struck out three NKU batters.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- It is worth repeating the CSU run of hot starts continued in the second game as Hurosky singled to center field in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead.
- Northern Kentucky pushed a run across in the top of the second to knot the game at one.
- Cleveland State responded right back as Spellman hit a RBI-double to left center and Frascone followed it up with a RBI-single to center in the bottom half of the inning as the Vikes went back ahead, 3-1.
- The two sides would remain scoreless over the next five frames as CSU slammed the door to collect the 3-1 win.
NEXT UP
It's right back to the diamond for the CSU program as the Vikes host Northern Kentucky for the final time to conclude the season-series on Wednesday, April 6 at Viking Field. First pitch is set for 11 AM ET and fans and supporters can follow along in real-time with the live stats here.
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