Cleveland, OH-The Cleveland State softball team hosted its first two games of the season at Viking Field on Friday afternoon. Oakland spoiled the home opening day as the Golden Grizzlies came away with two victories to sweep the doubleheader. Oakland won the first game 9-3 and the second game 3-1 to improve to 4-1 in Horizon League play and 12-10 overall. Cleveland State falls to 2-3 in the league and 6-15 overall.

In the opening game the Vikings got off to a quick start taking a 3-0 lead on the strength of three hits and two Oakland errors. Brooke Albaugh led off with a single and Jenna Deang attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt to advance Albaugh to second. Oakland catcher Jen Krizka attempted to throw to second base to get the lead runner, but the throw went into center field allowing Albaugh to scamper home and Deang to advance to third. Melissa Holzopfel then singled up the middle to score Deang to make it 2-0. Three batters later, Sophie Spellman reached on an error which brought the third run of the inning home.

From there it was all Oakland as the Golden Grizzlies struck for nine unanswered runs. Oakland scored twice in the second, fourth and sixth innings and added three more runs in the seventh to take a 9-3 lead.

Holzopfel added another run with an RBI double in the seventh but the comeback effort fell short as she was thrown out at the plate on a single up the middle later in the inning. Holzofpel took the loss in the circle yielding five earned runs and striking out four while going the full seven innings.

In the second game both teams struck for single runs in the first inning. Oakland scored on an RBI groundout off of Viking starter Torrie Jenkins and Cleveland State answered when Becky Hurosky singled home Albaugh to tie the score at 1.

The teams were scoreless until the fourth when Oakland put two aboard with two outs. A wild pitch followed by a single up the middle scored both runners to give the Golden Grizzlies a 3-1 lead.

Cleveland State had opportunities to draw even, with the biggest threat coming in the sixth inning. The Vikings loaded the bases with no one out but could not push a run across. A 1-2-3 inning in the seventh allowed Oakland to escape with the narrow victory.

The two teams will play the third and final game of the weekend series tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.