CLEVELAND – The Cleveland State softball program got back to its winning ways to celebrate Senior Day with a two-game sweep in a doubleheader over UIC at Viking Field on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Vikings put themselves into a race for first with three games left in the regular season.
After Saturday's action, Cleveland State is still locked into third place in the Horizon League at 16-7 overall (.696). The Vikings trail RMU (16-6, .727) and Oakland (15-5, .750) in a race for the top seed in the league.
"Today our seniors came out to win at their last home series at Viking Field," said head coach Amy Kyler. "We are blessed to have great leadership from all five seniors. We are excited to enter our last conference weekend and will work to our fullest potential to make our family and friends proud! Thank you to everyone that has been here with us and shared in the joy of this season."
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Cleveland State – 2, UIC – 0 (seven innings)
LOCATION: Viking Field – Cleveland, Ohio
RECORDS: Cleveland State 19-21 (15-7 Horizon), UIC 11-29 (8-13 Horizon)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Torrie Jenkins showed up in a big way with a complete-game shutout in the opener. She went all seven innings and allowed just two hits to go with a strikeout. It was the first shutout and complete game of her CSU career.
- Jenna Deang (1-for-3) and Courtney Fernette (1-for-3) each knocked in a run for the Vikes.
- Sydney Bajusz (1-for-2, run scored), Becky Hurosky (1-for-3) and Mackenzie Tucker (1-for-2) also recorded hits for CSU.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Deang got the scoring started in the bottom of the third with a triple through the right side that plated Bajusz to give CSU the 1-0 lead.
- The Vikings added another in the bottom of the fourth after Fernette tripled to right field to score Katie Holmes to push the edge to 2-0.
- Jenkins allowed just two base runners over the final three innings as the Vikes closed out the 2-0 win.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Cleveland State – 6, UIC – 2 (seven innings)
LOCATION: Viking Field – Cleveland, Ohio
RECORDS: Cleveland State 20-21 (16-7 Horizon), UIC 11-30 (8-14 Horizon)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Melissa Holzopfel followed up Jenkins with a complete-game gem of her own as the freshman standout went all seven innings with just two hits allowed and seven strikeouts. The two runs that UIC were able to score were both unearned.
- Senior Sydney Bajusz led the offensive charge for the Vikes with a 2-for-3 performance that included two RBI.
- Becky Hurosky posted two RBI with a 1-for-3 showing of her own. She also scored a run for CSU.
- Jenna Deang (1-for-3), Courtney Fernette (1-for-3), Aly Packish and Brooke Albuagh all crossed the plate for the Vikings. Fernette scored twice in total for CSU.
- Sophie Spellman (1-for-3) and Kaelin Ettinger (1-for-3, RBI) also added hits for Cleveland State.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- It was all Cleveland State in the bottom of the first as Hurosky got the scoring going with a double to left field that scored two to give CSU a quick 2-0 advantage. The offensive attack continued with a Bajusz single through the right side that plated Hurosky to make it 3-0, Cleveland State.
- UIC answered back with two runs of its own in the top of the second to cut the CSU advantage to 3-2.
- It was all Cleveland State from that point on as the Vikings got two runs in the bottom of the third to jump back ahead 5-2.
- The Vikes added another run of insurance off a Bajusz triple to right-center field as Fernette came around to score to make it 6-2.
- Holzopfel sat the side down in order in the top of the seventh to close out the victory.
NEXT UP
The Vikings have one final series left in the regular season; a three-game trip to Detroit Mercy on Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7. Friday will feature a single game at 3 PM ET while Saturday will consist of a doubleheader, beginning at noon. All three contests will be featured on ESPN+.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
Keep up to date with everything Cleveland State Softball. Follow @CSU_Softball on Twitter, @CSU_Softball on Instagram, like /CSUVikings on Facebook and subscribe to the Cleveland State Athletics Youtube channel.
