CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland State (17-23, 13-10) split its home doubleheader against Northern Kentucky (22-19, 14-9) on Friday afternoon. The Vikings blanked NKU 3-0 in game one before dropping the second game 12-4 in six innings.
Cleveland State opened the scoring in the bottom of the first on a two-out RBI single to right by Becky Hurosky, plating Jenna Deang from second.
Following a scoreless second, Deang led off the third with a single to right. Melissa Holzopfel then reached on a bunt to third, and Hurosky moved up both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Emma Gilkerson scored both runners with a single to right center as the Vikings led 3-0.
Northern Kentucky managed just two hits in the game as Holzopfel recorded her second complete-game shutout of the year. The junior improved to 14-8 in the circle after striking out five.
The Green and White registered ten hits behind a 3-for-3 game from Deang. Gilkerson finished with multiple hits and a game-best two runs batted in.
The Norse took their first lead of the day with an RBI single through the right side in the top of the first in game two. Brooke Albaugh was hit by a pitch to start the bottom half of the first and then swiped second. Following a strikeout, Holzopfel evened the game with a double to left.
Cleveland State jumped ahead in the second with three runs on two hits. Gilkerson walked and then moved to second on a Peyton Mueller-Stenz sacrifice bunt. Sophie Spellman then put Cleveland State on top with an RBI single to left, advancing to second on the throw.
Following a wild pitch, Gorsuch made it 3-1 with a fielder's choice to short. Albaugh capped the frame with a sacrifice fly to center as the Green and White led 4-1.
Northern Kentucky went back on top in the next inning with four runs on two hits to lead 5-4. The Norse then added a run in the next two innings and five in the sixth to win 12-4.
Gilkerson went two-for-two in the contest while the squad finished with six hits. Katie McDonald took the loss in the circle.
The decisive game three will take place tomorrow on Viking Field at 1 p.m. with Senior Day festivities taking place at 12:30 p.m.
