CLEVELAND – The Cleveland State softball program split its doubleheader against visiting Oakland on a clear and sunny day at Viking Field on Saturday. With one win, the Vikings continue to place themselves at the top of the Horizon League.
CSU slots in at third with a 13-5 record in conference play. The squad is trying to chase down first-place Robert Morris (14-3) and sits right behind Oakland (12-3), who is now in second after weekend action.
With their 13th win in HL play, Cleveland State has already tied its most conference victories in a single-season since the group won 13 in 2011. CSU still has eight more Horizon games on the slate to end the regular season.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Cleveland State – 2, Oakland – 5 (seven innings)
LOCATION: Viking Field – Cleveland, Ohio
RECORDS: Cleveland State 16-19 (12-5 Horizon), Oakland 17-10 (12-2 Horizon)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Vikings ran into a hot pitcher and managed just three hits in the opening contest.
- Melissa Holzopfel led the charge on offense with a 1-for-2 performance to go with the Vikes' two RBI.
- Kiera Frascone (1-for-2) and Mackenzie Tucker (1-for-3) added the other CSU hits.
- Brooke Albaugh and Frascone both scored runs in the game.
- Torrie Jenkins threw a great game in relief as the Buffalo, NY native logged six innings and allowed five hits and two earned runs to go with a strikeout.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Oakland got on the board right away with a two-run homer in the top of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead.
- The Grizzles added another in the top of the second to make it 3-0.
- It wasn't until the top of the sixth that Oakland struck again with a two-run shot to push ahead 5-0.
- Holzopfel made it a game with a single to right field that plated Albaugh and Frascone in the bottom half of the inning to change it to 5-2.
- The Grizzles closed the game out in the bottom of the seventh to take the victory.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Cleveland State – 2, Oakland – 1 (seven innings)
LOCATION: Viking Field – Cleveland, Ohio
RECORDS: Cleveland State 17-19 (13-5 Horizon), Oakland 17-11 (12-3 Horizon)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Jenna Deang had a perfect second game with a 3-for-3 performance. She also scored the game-winning run.
- Brooke Albaugh added a 2-for-3 game with a run scored.
- Becky Hurosky (1-for-3) and Kaelin Ettinger (1-for-3) recorded the Vikings two RBI.
- Melissa Holzopfel threw another complete-game gem as she went all seven innings and allowed just four hits and one earned run along with eight punchouts. She improved to 12-10 on the year and continues to be ranked at the top of the Horizon League across multiple categories that include strikeouts (second), wins (third), complete games (tied for fourth), opponent batting average allowed (sixth) and ERA (seventh), respectively.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Oakland started the scoring early once again as the Grizzles recorded a run in the top of the first to jump ahead 1-0.
- The Vikings tied the game in the bottom of the second. After Albaugh doubled to deep right-center, Ettinger followed it up with a single down the left-field line to score her for the Vikes to tie the game at 1-1.
- CSU took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Deang started the frame with a double to left-center and would then come around to score off a Hurosky double to give Cleveland State the advantage. It would turn out to be the last run either team would score.
- Holzopfel and the Vikings defense combined to shut out Oakland over the final six innings in total to collect the 2-1 win.
NEXT UP
Cleveland State and Green Bay will meet up for a Horizon League doubleheader on Wednesday, April 27, with first pitches set for approximately 3 and 5 PM ET. Both contests will be broadcast live across the ESPN+ platform.
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