Vikings Fall At Belmont, 18-11
    Johnson And Shaffer Each Recorded Four Hits During The Game
    Kyle Shaffer

    Kyle Shaffer

    March 17, 2010

    Final Stats

    Contact: Renee Adam

    Nashville, Tenn. - Cleveland State got off to a quick start, scoring four runs in the first inning for the second game in a row, but the Vikings weren't able to hold off Belmont, dropping the final game of the series, 18-11 this afternoon at Shelby Park.

    "We didn't have strong pitching today and that hurt us," head coach Kevin Kocks said. "We were able to get some hits and get our offense going, but we just couldn't get anything together defensively to help us out throughout the entire game."

    As the lead off batter for the Vikings, Alex Johnson singled to left field, advanced to second base after Kyle Shaffer grounded out to third and scored on a Tyler Wynn single, putting the Vikings on the board. Bob Suitca hit a two-run homer as the fifth Viking at the plate, driving in Wynn to give CSU a 3-0 lead with two outs. Travis Miller was the final Viking to score during the inning after getting on base by a Belmont error, putting the Vikings up 4-0 going into the bottom of the inning.

    The Bruins responded with eight runs over the first two innings, to take an 8-4 lead off of four hits and five walks.

    Shaffer hit his second home run in two days, scoring the lone run during the third inning, to bring the Vikings within three, 8-5 but the Bruins were able to score three runs in the bottom of the third, putting the score at 11-5 going into the fourth inning.

    CSU got off to a strong start in the fourth inning, with the first five Vikings at the plate reaching base and two of them scoring, putting the score at 11-7. Tom Carter had the first hit of the inning, with a single to the left side and rounded the bases off of a Johnson bunt and a Ryan Franks single to mark the first run of the inning, while Johnson scored after Shaffer singled to center field, to close the inning for the Vikings.

     

     

    Belmont answered back with four more runs in the bottom of the inning, off of five hits, four doubles and one single, giving the Bruins an eight-run lead, 15-7.

    The Vikings and Bruins traded runs in the sixth inning, as Johnson recorded his third run of the game for the Vikings, after reaching base on a single, reaching third on a Franks single and scoring on a Shaffer sacrifice fly, putting the score at 15-8. Shortly after the Bruins put two additional runs on the board, extending their lead to 17-8.

    The Vikings ended the game with three runs over the final two innings, with Franks scoring in the eighth inning and Johnson and Jason Haditsch scoring in the ninth inning, to put the final score at 18-11.

    Johnson and Shaffer led the Vikings at the plate with four hits each, Johnson going four-for-six with four runs and one RBI and Shaffer going four-for-five with one run and four RBI. Franks and Wynn each had two hits on the day, combining for three RBI.

    Dalton Bell picked up the win for the Bruins after pitching three innings of relief work, striking out two Vikings. Joey Gradney (0-2) recorded the loss for CSU, starting the game on the mound working one full inning.

    The Vikings continue their Tennessee trip with a three game series at Tennessee-Martin this weekend, beginning on Friday (March 19) at 5:00 p.m. in Martin, Tenn.