April 5, 2002

After dropping the opening game of a twinbill against Bowling Green, 4-3, the Cleveland State softball team outplayed the Falcons to take the finale, 6-1.

In game one, down 2-1, the Vikings (10-11-1) rallied for two runs in the top of the sixth to take a 3-2 lead. With one out and runners on second and third, senior Jackie Miller (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) lined a double to left center to plate the tying and go ahead runs.

Cleveland State could not hold the advantage, however, as a pair of errors allowed the Falcons to post two unearned runs in the seventh for a 4-3 walk-off victory.

Freshman Kortney Spidell (Strasburg, Ohio/Strasburg Franklin) yielded only one earned run on seven hits in six-plus innings of work. Sophomore shortstop Michelle Beightol (Akron, Ohio/Springfield) went 2-3 in the game and scored two of the teams three runs.

The Vikings rebounded in the second contest, taking advantage of wildness from the Falcon pitching staff and clutch hitting of their own to collect six runs on eight hits while drawing seven walks.

Up 2-0 in the fourth, freshman Anna Marie Hubert (North Royalton, Ohio/North Royalton) led off the inning with a single to right, advanced to second on a sac bunt by senior Tiffany Stocker (Sherrodsville, Ohio/Conotton Valley), and scored on a double by Spidell. On the very next at bat, Beightol doubled to left to plate Spidell.

The Vikings would tally two more in the seventh to complete their scoring.

The offensive effort was more than enough for starting pitcher Spidell, as she cruised though seven innings, giving up one run on six hits and a walk. She also aided her cause at the plate, going 2-3 and scoring twice. Freshman Michelle Nicholas (Navarre, Ohio/Perry) contributed two hits as well, driving in a pair.

The Vikings will open up a doubleheader in Niagara on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.