Cleveland, OH-The Cleveland State softball team took both games of a doubleheader against Purdue Fort Wayne on Wednesday afternoon to improve to 8-4 in Horizon League play. The Vikings swept the series with the Mastodons after taking the series opener on Tuesday. This is the first series sweep of the season for the Vikings and the third series victory in four tries at the start of conference play.
Cleveland State won both games by one run, taking the first game 4-3 and the second game 3-2. The Vikings jumped out to early leads in both games and had to withstand late rallies from Purdue Fort Wayne in both games to emerge with the series sweep.
Game One
Cleveland State scored early as Becky Hurosky singled home Brooke Albaugh to put Cleveland State up 1-0 in the first inning. Albaugh reached first on a passed ball, as she swung and missed at strike three but was able to reach first as the ball went to the backstop.
Albaugh once again kick started a rally in the bottom of the third as she ripped a double with one out. A single and stolen base from Jenna Deang moved the runners up to second and third and Melissa Holzopfel cashed in with an RBI double to score both runners. Hurosky followed with another RBI hit which put the Vikings up 4-1 at the end of the third.
Torrie Jenkins held Purdue Fort Wayne scoreless until the top of the seventh. Down to their final three outs, the Mastodons rallied to plate two runs on an RBI double with one out. Purdue Fort Wayne had the tying run at third base and Jenkins buckled down, recording a strikeout and a flyout to end the game and give the Vikings the 4-3 win. She went the distance to pick up her third win of the season.
Game Two
The second game followed a similar script, with Purdue Fort Wayne scoring first on an RBI single from Grace Hollopeter in the top of the third put the Mastodons in front 1-0.
Cleveland State answered in the bottom of the inning as the Vikings scored three runs on the strength of a Holzopfel RBI double and a Hurosky home run. Holzopfel's hit brought home Albaugh to tie the score. Hurosky put the Vikings in front with a blast to dead center field, her second round tripper of the season. Cleveland State led 3-1 through three innings.
Holzopfel once again was stellar in the circle, striking out six in a complete game effort. Purdue Fort Wayne once again mounted a late rally, putting runners on second and third with one out. An RBI groundout brought home a run, but Holzopfel was able to retire Epiphany Hang on a flyout to end the game and finish off the sweep.
Cleveland State will head back on the road for a three-game series at Detroit Mercy scheduled to begin on Saturday.
