Cleveland, OH-The Cleveland State softball team defeated Oakland in the finale of a three-game home opening series at Viking Field on Saturday afternoon. The Vikings clubbed two home runs in defeating the Golden Grizzlies 5-3 to even their record at 3-3 through the first two conference series of the season. Oakland is 4-2 in the league after taking the first two games of the series yesterday.

Oakland got on the board first with a solo home run in the top of the first inning, and the Vikings answered by scratching across a run in the bottom half. Brooke Albaugh led off with a double and advanced to third on a deep fly ball to center field. With two outs, Becky Hurosky reached on a ground ball to second that was overthrown to first base, allowing Albaugh to cross the plate to tie the score at 1.

Oakland again scored a single run in the top of the second before Peyton Mueller-Stenz crushed her first home run of the season, a solo shot over the left field wall, that tied the score once again at 2.

In the third the Vikings rallied with two outs and it was Emma Gilkerson's turn to get in on the home run barrage. Hurosky was hit by a pitch and Gilkerson followed with her second home run of the season, once again to left field to give Cleveland State a 4-2 lead. 

Oakland scored a run in the fourth to tighten the score to 4-3 but the Vikings added an insurance run in the sixth as Sophie Spellman singled home pinch runner Jenna Watts to bring the lead back to two runs.

The Vikings were solid in the circle throughout the game with Torrie Jenkins throwing the first four innings and earning her second win of the season. Jenkins gave up two earned runs and struck out two while not walking a batter. Melissa Holzopfel entered in relief and threw the final three scoreless innings, recording three strikeouts and earning her first save of the season. 

Cleveland State heads back on the road next weekend as the Vikings head to Green Bay for a three-game series scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 5-6.