DETROIT – The Cleveland State softball program split its road doubleheader at Detroit Mercy, dropping the opener by a 4-3 score before answering back in the second game with a thrilling 5-4 victory at Buysse Ballpark on Friday afternoon.
It is the first time that the Vikings have recorded 20 conference wins since the 2016 campaign. No matter what happened this weekend, Cleveland State had already secured its spot in the 2022 Horizon League Championship tournament. It is the first post-season appearance for the group since 2016.
THE BASICS - GAME ONE
FINAL SCORE: Cleveland State – 3, Detroit – 4 (seven innings)
LOCATION: Buysse Ballpark – Detroit, Michigan
RECORDS: Cleveland State 20-22 (16-8 Horizon), Detroit 6-34 (6-19 Horizon)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Courtney Fernette led the Vikings with a 1-for-3 performance that included two RBI and a run scored. She hit the first of her two homers on the day in the opening game.
- Becky Hurosky added a 1-for-2 opener. She too recorded a RBI.
- Brooke Albaugh (1-for-3) and Jenna Deang (0-for-3, BB) also crossed the plate for the Vikes.
- Kaelin Ettinger (1-for-3) and Kiera Frascone (1-for-2, BB) both posted hits for CSU in the contest.
-Melissa Holzopfel threw a complete game over six innings with four runs (three earned) and five strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Hurosky got the Vikings on the board right off the bat with a single to left-center field that plated Deang in the top of the first to give CSU a 1-0 edge.
- Detroit Mercy responded back in the bottom half of the frame with a run of its own to knot things at 1-1.
- Fernette hit her first home run of the day with a shot to left-center field to push the Vikes ahead, 3-1.
- The Titans stormed back with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to jump back ahead 4-3.
- Detroit Mercy was able to shut CSU down over the final three innings to close out the victory.
THE BASICS - GAME TWO
FINAL SCORE: Cleveland State – 5, Detroit – 4 (seven innings)
LOCATION: Buysse Ballpark – Detroit, Michigan
RECORDS: Cleveland State 21-22 (17-8 Horizon), Detroit 6-35 (6-20 Horizon)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Six different Vikings recorded at least a hit in the second game.
- CSU was led by Courtney Fernette (1-for-2, 2 RBI, R, 2 BB), Becky Hurosky (2-for-3, R, BB) and Aly Packish (1-for-4, 2 RBI, R). The duo of Fernette and Packish each hit a home run in the contest. It was the first shot of the season for Packish while Fernette collected her fifth home run, the tenth-most in the Horizon League this year.
- Kaelin Ettinger (2-for-4, RBI) added the game-winning RBI for the Vikes.
- Melissa Holzopfel (1-for-3, R, BB) and Kiera Frascone (1-for-3, R) also posted hits for CSU.
- Torrie Jenkins picked up her third victory of the season with a complete game against the Titans. The sophomore went all seven innings and allowed seven hits and four runs (three earned) to go with two strikeouts. It was the second-straight complete game for the Buffalo, NY native and the second of her collegiate career.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Titans scored first with a run in the bottom of the first to jump out to a 1-0 lead.
- Fernette hit her second homer of the day, her fifth of the season, to drive in two as the Vikes countered with a 2-1 advantage in the top of the second.
- CSU added another two runs in the top of the third with a two-run bomb by Packish to make it 4-1.
- Detroit Mercy battled back with a run in the fourth and two runs in the top of the sixth to tie the game at 4-4.
- Cleveland State struck again in the top of the seventh as Ettinger punched one through the left side to score Holzopfel as the Vikes retook the 5-4 edge.
- Jenkins and the Vikings set the Titans side down in order in the bottom half of the frame to close out the 5-4 win.
NEXT UP
Cleveland State will conclude its regular season with a final game at Detroit Mercy on Saturday, May 7. First pitch is set for 3 PM ET and the game will be featured nationwide on ESPN+.
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