Jacksonville, FL-The Cleveland State Softball team suffered two tough defeats at the JU/UNF Invitational on Friday.
The Vikings fell to Penn State in the season opener 6-1, and then dropped a 10-2 decision to North Florida which was called due to the mercy rule after five innings.
In the opening game against Penn State, the Vikings battled tough. The game was scoreless through the first two frames, until Penn State broke through with two runs in the bottom of the third.
The Vikings came back with a single run in the top of the 4th. Emily Yacapraro led off the inning by reaching on an error, and then stole second. Following a pop out, Becky Hurosky ripped a single through the right side to score Yacapraro and make it 2-1.
The Vikings held Penn State scoreless in the fourth inning, but the Nittany Lions were able to pull away in the fifth. Liana Jones hit a three-run home run to put Penn State up 5-1, and the Nittany Lions tacked on one more later in the inning for the 6-1 final score.
In the nightcap against North Florida, the Vikings took the early lead, jumping ahead 1-0 in the top of the first inning. CSU loaded the bases on the strength of a bunt single, a fielding error and a hit-by-pitch. Brooke Albaugh reached on a fielder's choice, which brought in Yacapraro from third for the game's first run.
The rain came in the bottom of the first, as the game was briefly halted for a weather delay.
Following the delay, the UNF bats came to life. North Florida scored in every inning but one, scoring a single run in the first, followed by two in the second, four in the third, and three more in the fifth to end the game via the mercy rule.
The Vikings will be back in action tomorrow with two more games. First Cleveland State takes on Memphis at 2:30 p.m. and then comes a rematch with North Florida at 7:30 p.m.
