Raleigh, NC-The Cleveland State softball team battled mother nature throughout the day kicking off the NC State Wolfpack Classic. The schedule was pushed back multiple times but the Vikings finally took to the field to take on Appalachian State, dropping a 4-2 decision to the Mountaineers to open the tournament.

Cleveland State took an early lead with Becky Hurosky singling home Jenna Deang to put the Vikings up 1-0. Deang led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch before scoring on Hurosky's single.

Appalachian State scored all of its runs in the bottom of the first, using three hits, an error and a fielder's choice to plate four runs. The Mountaineers batted around in the inning sending all nine starters to the plate and took a 4-1 advantage.

Cleveland State got one of those runs back in the third when Emma Gilkerson struck an RBI single scoring Brooke Albaugh to trim the deficit to two. The Vikings mustered just one baserunner over the final four innings and were unable to draw closer the rest of the way.

Melissa Holzopfel took the loss to fall to 2-2 on the season. Holzopfel yielded four unearned runs and struck out five batters over seven innings of work.

The Vikings return to the diamond on Saturday morning with a 10:30 a.m. first pitch against host NC State. Live stats will be available as well as a live stream on ESPN+.