Detroit, MI-The Cleveland State softball team earned its fourth Horizon League series win and tenth league victory overall with a win in the second game of a doubleheader at Detroit Mercy on Sunday afternoon. The Vikings rebounded after falling 6-2 in game one with a 12-1 win in six innings in game two. Cleveland State took the series opener on Saturday by a 3-1 score.

The Vikings are 10-5 in the Horizon League and 14-17 overall. Detroit Mercy is 2-10 in league play and 3-29 overall. Cleveland State is tied for third in the league standings with Northern Kentucky.

In game two, the Vikings struck early and often in scoring six runs in the first two innings to open the floodgates. A two-run single from Becky Hurosky and a two-run triple from Brooke Albaugh highlighted the early scoring. 

Melissa Holzopfel helped her own cause in the fourth as she crushed a two-run home run to center field to make it 8-0 Vikings.

Holzopfel was stellar in the circle yet again, picking up her fourth victory of the week in a complete game performance. She recorded a third double-digit strikeout game in her last five outings with 11 strikeouts. She gave up five hits and just one earned run, which came on a triple in the fifth that extended the game. The Vikings struck for four runs in the top of the sixth and Holzopfel retired the side with ease in the bottom of the inning to end the game early due to the run rule. 

All nine Cleveland State starters recorded a hit in the second game. Albaugh finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored. Jenna Deang was a perfect 4-of-4 with three runs scored and an RBI. Holzopfel finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, and Hurosky was 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored. The top four hitters in the lineup finished a combined 11-for-15 with nine runs scored and nine driven in.

In the first game, Cleveland State had a 2-1 lead following a home run from Peyton Mueller-Stenz in the second inning. Detroit Mercy answered with two more long balls of their own striking for five runs in the third through fifth innings to take a 6-2 advantage. Cleveland State was unable to mount a comeback in a bid for the series sweep.

The Vikings will stay on the road next weekend for a three-game set against Robert Morris. Game one of the series is scheduled for Friday, April 19 at 3:00 p.m.