Vikings Drop Final Two Games At Tennessee-Martin
    CSU Travels To Kent State On Tuesday (March 23)
    Bob Suitca

    Bob Suitca

    March 20, 2010

    Final Stats

    Contact: Renee Adam

    Martin, Tenn. - The Vikings combined to score 20 runs over both games in today's double header at Tennessee-Martin, but Cleveland State wasn't able to overcome the Skyhawks, falling in the first game 16-9, and dropping a 20-11 decision in the second game of the day at Skyhawk Field.

    In the first game, the Vikings scored all nine runs in the final five innings, including a four-run rally in the ninth. CSU was led by Alex Johnson and Kyle Shaffer in the final inning, with Johnson hitting a lead off triple and Shaffer hitting a three-run homer. The triple marks the second of the season for Johnson and Shaffer notched his third homerun of the year. The fourth run of the inning came after Chuck Gasti doubled to left field, driving in Dylan Schwegler, who came in to pinch hit for Travis Miller.

    CSU put two runs on the board during the fifth and seventh innings, off of three hits, an Alex Gnezda single, Johnson single and a Tom Carter single.

    The Skyhawks had an eight run second inning and would never look back as they added three runs in the fourth and fifth innings and one run in both the sixth and eighth innings.

    Shaffer led the Vikings at the plate in the first game, going three-for-four with two runs and three RBI.

    Anthony Sambula (2-2) had the start on the mound, pitching four innings striking out three and picking up the loss for the Vikings.

    Dan Tobik (2-1) got the win for UTM, after working six innings and striking out four batters.

     

     

    The second game of the day followed suit, with UTM getting out to an early 6-3 lead, and the Skyhawks wouldn't let up, scoring 14 more runs in four innings.

    The Vikings found their offense during the second game, with four players each hitting a home run, Johnson, Gasti, Tyler Wynn, and Bob Suitca.

    CSU scored three runs in the second inning, with the first three Vikings to the plate recording hits. Wynn led off with a home run, Suitca followed him with a single to right field and Gasti homered to right field, driving in Suitca, putting the Vikings down by one, 4-3 going into the bottom of the inning.

    CSU was able to put two runs on the board in the third inning, off of a Gasti single and a Josh Lowe double, bringing the Vikings to within one run again, 6-5.

    The Vikings were not able to keep pace with the Skyhawks, as they scored 14 runs to CSU's six over the next five innings.

    Suitca and Gasti led CSU in the second game, with Suitca going three-for-five at the plate with two runs and three RBI, while Gasti was two-for-three with three runs and two RBI.

    Coty Bates (0-2) picked up the loss for the Vikings, pitching the first 3 1/3 innings of the game, allowing 10 runs and striking out five.

    Dylan Cupples (2-1) tallied the win for the Skyhawks, pitching three innings of relief work, striking out two Vikings.

    CSU returns to action on Tuesday (March 23) when they travel to Kent, Ohio to take on the Kent State Golden Flashes in a 3:00 p.m. game at Olga Mural Field.