YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The best Cleveland State softball season in over a decade has come to an end as the Vikings fell to Robert Morris University, 5-2, in an elimination game to end the program's stay at the 2022 Horizon League Championships at the YSU Softball Complex on Friday afternoon.
The 2022 CSU campaign featured a return to the Horizon League Tournament for the first time since 2016, the most wins in a single season (22) since 2015, and the most conference victories (18) since 2010.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Cleveland State – 2, RMU – 5 (seven innings)
LOCATION: YSU Softball Complex – Youngstown, Ohio
RECORDS: Cleveland State 22-24 (18-8 Horizon), RMU 30-20 (16-9 Horizon)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Sydney Bajusz (2-for-3) and Becky Hurosky (1-for-3) knocked in an RBI apiece for Cleveland State.
- Courtney Fernette (1-for-3) and Jenna Deang (1-for-4) scored the Vikes runs on the afternoon.
- Melissa Holzopfel (1-for-3) and Sophie Spellman (1-for-3) also added hits for the Vikings.
- Bajusz also swiped two bags while Holzopfel added a stolen base.
- Holzopfel was also in the circle, and allowed nine hits and five runs (four earned), to go with seven strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Robert Morris University got the scoring started right away with a sacrifice fly in the top of the first to jump ahead 1-0.
- CSU answered back as Hurosky beat out an infield single to plate Deang to knot the game at 1-1 in the bottom half of the first.
- RMU got the lead back with a two-run shot in the top of the fourth to make it 3-1.
- Cleveland State responded again in the bottom of the frame off a Bajusz single to center field that scored Fernette to get the Vikings back in it at 3-2.
- The Colonials loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, and the Vikes almost got out of it, but a two-out, two-RBI single up the middle gave RMU two insurance runs to move things to 5-2.
- RMU got CSU to go down in order in the bottom of the seventh to advance in the tournament.
- It was the third consecutive elimination-game win for RMU. The Colonials went on to win another on Friday night to put themselves in Saturday's championship game.
NEXT UP
That concludes the record-breaking season for Cleveland State, a campaign that looks to set a positive tone for the program over the next few years. It was the best season for the Vikings since 2010.
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