May 6, 2008

Contact: Brian McCann

Complete Release in PDF Format

2008 Horizon League Softball Championship
Game 46
#6 Green Bay (10-23)/#7 Butler (16-27) vs. #1 Cleveland State (29-16)
Dates: Thurs., May 8, 5:00 p.m.
Site: Loyola Softball Park(500), Chicago, Ill.

Other Opening Day Games

No. 6 Green Bay vs. No. 7 Butler, 10:00 a.m.
No. 5 UIC vs. No. 8 Youngstown St., 12:00 noon
No. 4 Loyola vs. No. 9 Detroit, 2:00 p.m.
No. 1 Cleveland St. vs. UWGB/Butler, 5:00 p.m.
No. 2 Valparaiso vs. UIC/YSU, 7:00 p.m.
No. 3 Wright State vs. Loyola/Detroit, 9:00 p.m.

SETTING THE SCENE: After splitting a doubleheader with Valparaiso on Sunday (May 4), Cleveland State (29-16, 14-4) enters the 2008 Horizon League Championship as the top seed and will need to win just three games without a loss to secure its second-ever league title. The nine-team tournament will be played from Thursday-Sunday, May 8-12 at the Loyola Softball Park in Chicago, Ill. The Vikings will receive a first round bye, opening tourney play on Thursday (May 8) against the winner of the No. 6 Green Bay vs. No. 7 Butler game beginning at 5:00 p.m. EDT. A victory would send CSU to the semifinals on Friday at 9:00 p.m. while a loss would put the Vikings into the back draw and require CSU to win seven games to claim the title.

PREVIEWING THE VIKINGS: Under the direction of second year head coach Angie Nicholson, the Vikings enter the Horizon League Championship as the top seed for the first time in school history. With seven starters returning from last year's squad that posted a 33-14 record and the addition of nine first year players, Nicholson has had a deep and experienced roster that has allowed her many options when filling out the starting lineup. Like all good teams, the Vikings are strong up the middle. The left side of the infield consisting of shortstop Christa Coppus (.373 avg., 25 RBI) and Amanda Houchin (.248) at third base each earned first team all-league honors a year ago. CSU has first-year starters on the right side of the infield as junior transfer Natalie DeMatteis (.205) takes over at second base with freshman Katelyn Ciminelli (.267, 2 HR, 20 RBI) starting at first base. Junior Haley Keller (.245, 4 HR, 20 RBI), who started every game behind the plate last year, shares time with freshman Amy Powell (.261, 5 HR, 12 RBI). Jessica Burt (.287, 22 runs, 16 RBI, 11 SB) moves from left to right with Danielle Young (.318, 21 RBI, 25 runs) taking over in center field. Whitney Willard (.304, 23 RBI, 28 runs, 20 SB), who missed the last third of the 2007 season with a concussion, is the lone senior on the roster and returns to start in left field. 2007 second team All-Horizon League honoree Amanda Macenko (24-12, 1.41 ERA, 3 saves), who set CSU records for wins (26) and innings pitched (227.1) as a freshman, is the ace of the pitching staff.

REVIEWING LAST WEEK: The Vikings played just four games last week, dropping a mid-week doubleheader to Kent State on Wednesday (April 30) and split a twinbill on Sunday (May 4) with Valpo. Here is a summary of those games:

Game 42: Kent State 1, CSU 0
Jessica Carmichael's one-out homer in the fifth proved to be the difference as CSU dropped a 1-0 decision to Kent State in the opening game of a doubleheader. Amanda Macenko was the loser despite allowing just four hits.

Kent State 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 - 1-4-0
Cleveland State 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0-4-1
WP: Reynolds (19-4). LP: Macenko (23-11)

Game 43: Kent State 3, CSU 0 (8 Inn.)
The Vikings couldn't capitalize on a bases loaded and no out situation in the seventh and Kent State answered with three runs in the top of the eighth to claim a 3-0 decision over CSU in the second game of a doubleheader. Brittany Bate was the hard-luck loser, allowing just six hits. Whitney Willard had three of CSU's six hits.

Kent State 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 - 3-6-0
Cleveland State 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0-6-1
WP: Burns (16-5). LP: Bate (3-3)

Game 44: Valparaiso 1, CSU 0 (8 Inn.)
Sadie Conner singled in the only run with two outs in the top of the eighth as the Vikings dropped a 1-0 decision to Valparaiso in the opening game of a doubleheader.

Valparaiso 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 - 1-4-0
Cleveland State 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 - 0-2-2
WP: Zappia (19-7). LP: Macenko (23-12).

Game 45: CSU 8, Toledo 0 (5 Inn.)
Amanda Houchin singled home Christa Coppus in the third to end a 29-inning scoreless drought for the Vikings and CSU exploded for three more runs in the fourth, including a solo homerun by Amy Powell and an RBI triple from Danielle Young as the Vikings won 4-1 to claim the Horizon League regular season title.

Valparaiso 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 - 1-4-1
Cleveland State 0 0 0 1 3 0 X - 4-9-1
WP: Macenko (24-12). LP: Zappia (19-8).

CALLING IN SICK: Second year Cleveland State head coach Angie Nicholson returned to the dugout for the Valparaiso doubleheader after missing the April 30 twinbill against Kent State after giving birth to her fourth child. Darrian Lee Nicholson, who was born at 12:10 p.m. on Tuesday (April 29), checked in at seven pounds and two ounces and 19 inches long. Angie and her husband Richard, who wrestled as an undergraduate at Cleveland State, also have three daughters Taylor (6), Mackenzie (4) and Payton (2).

BETTER GET THEM EARLY: CSU opponents hold a 29-22 edge in scoring in the first inning of games this year, the only inning that the Vikings have been outscored. CSU has dominated in the rest of the innings, holding at least a +8 run edge in innings two through seven. The good news ends there however as CSU is 1-4 in extra innings, being outscored, 11-4, in extra innings.

. . . BECAUSE THE VIKINGS ARE STRONG FINISHERS: One statistic that just jumps off the sheet this season is that CSU is 19-0 this year when leading after five innings and a perfect 20-0 when leading after six innings. The Vikings have outscored their opponents, 28-14, in the sixth inning this season and an amazing 23-6 in the seventh inning. The seventh inning total has allowed CSU to rally from behind three times in the seventh inning this season and once when the score was tied going into the seventh.

. . . AND ARE PERFECT ON FRIDAY: Cleveland State enters the league tourney with a perfect 6-0 mark in games played on Friday this year, but the Vikings haven't played a Friday contest since claiming wins over Wagner and Rider during the spring break trip on March 14 in Orlando, Fla. The good news for CSU is that it will play at least one game on Friday this week. To date, CSU has outscored its opponents 40-12 on Friday, owning wins over James Madison (8-0), Niagara (2-1), Wagner (9-0), Rider (13-5) and two wins over Wright State (4-3 & 4-3).

VIKINGS EYE 30TH WIN: CSU enters the week with a 29-16 record and within reach of winning their 30th game in a season for the fifth time in school history and third year in a row. The Vikings were 33-14 last year and set a record with 38 wins in 2006 (38-15).

THE VIKINGS ARE FINALLY THE BRIDE: After finishing second in the regular season five times since 1997, Cleveland State finally earned its first regular season crown when the Vikings split a doubleheader with Valparaiso on Sunday to assure itself the 2008 Horizon League crown. CSU had previously finished second in 1997 and 1999 (in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference) and 2004, 2005 and 2007 in the Horizon League.

VIKINGS CLAIM CSU'S FIFTH TITLE: When the softball team claimed the Horizon League regular season title over the weekend, it marked the fifth different CSU sport to win a league title this season, easily the highest number of championships in a year in school history. In fact, prior to this year, CSU won multiple championships in the same season just four times, most recently happening in 2005-06 when both men's golf and men's swimming won crowns.

. . . AND WHAT DO THE COACHES KNOW? A look back at the 2008 Horizon League Preseason Coaches Poll shows that the head coaches of the nine league schools correctly picked the eventual finish of two of the nine league schools this year and missed by three spots or more the finish of four of the top five teams in the league. Cleveland State, which was picked to finish fourth by the coaches, claimed the regular season title with Valparaiso, which was picked fifth, finishing second. Wright State did indeed finish third as the poll predicted but Loyola and UIC, who were tabbed first and second, respectively, went on to finish fourth and fifth. Green Bay, which was picked eighth, improved two spots to sixth place while seventh place Butler and eighth place Youngstown State finished one spot lower than projected. The only other team that the coaches correctly predicted was 9th place Detroit.

WILLARD HAS A 20-20-20 VISION: Senior Whitney Willard reached a milestone during the final week of the regular season, stealing three bases to become only the second player in school history to record 20 or more steals in three consecutive seasons. Willard, who ranks third in school history with 74 stolen bases, is 20 for 24 in stolen bases attempts this year. After making just seven steals as a freshman in 2005, she had 20 steals as a sophomore and 27 as a junior.

ROAD WARRIORS: One of the main reasons why Cleveland State is sitting atop the Horizon League standings this year with a 14-4 record is because of their ability to win on the road. The Vikings own a Horizon League best 9-2 record in road league contests this year, sweeping a three-game series at preseason favorite Loyola, 2-1 series wins at UIC and Wright State and a two-game sweep at Youngstown State. The trend actually started last year when CSU went 6-0 on the road in league action.

. . . AND THE RECORD BACKS CSU UP: The Vikings are probably happy that the Horizon League Championship is in Chicago this year. After all, not only did CSU go 5-1 in the city this year, sweeping a three-game series from Loyola and winning two of three games at UIC, but the Vikings have proven to be a much better team away from home. The Vikings posted a 21-9 record in games played away from home, going 11-5 in away games and 10-4 in contests at a neutral site, while owning a meager 8-7 mark in home games.

145 & COUNTING FOR COPPUS: Junior shortsop Christa Coppus enters the week having started every game during her Viking career. . . 145 to date. She earned the starting nod in all 53 games as a freshman in 2006 and started 47 straight last season. This year, she is one of five Vikings to start all 45 contests.

. . . AND COPPUS ON THE CHARTS: Christa Coppus begins the week ranked among the top 10 in school history in several categories. She is hitting a school record .364 (163-447) with a school-best 38 doubles while also ranking fourth with 12 homeruns and 92 RBI, fifth with 89 runs scored and sixth with 163 hits.

MACENKO WINS HER 50TH: When Amanda Macenko threw a four-hitter against Valparaiso on May 4 to help CSU claim the Horizon League regular season title, the sophomore righthander also reached a personal milestone, recording her 50th victory as a Viking. Macenko, who is 24-12 this year, is just the third pitcher in school history to reach the milestone, joining Amy Kyler and Grace Luginbuhl, and is the first sophomore to achieve the feat. Combined with a 26-10 record last year, Macenko is 50-22 in her career.

. . . AND WINS BACK-TO-BACK 20: With six wins in the last two weeks, Macenko has also become the first Viking to win 20 games or more in consecutive seasons. She also joined Amy Kyler (1995 & 1997) as the only pitchers to win 20 games or more in multiple seasons.

A BALANCED ATTACK: Angie Nicholson knew going into the 2008 season that from top to bottom, the Vikings featured one of the most experienced and talented lineups in school history. As the season winds down, the statistics back this up as the roster features five players with 20 or more RBIs with Christa Coppus leading the way with 25. Four players have scored 20 or more runs with Whitney Willard leading the team with 28. In addition, five Vikings have 30 or more hits (Coppus has a team-high 50).

HIBERNATION APPEARS OVER FOR BEAR: After struggling to hit .189 (10-53) in the first 19 games, junior Amanda Houchin, who is nicknamed Bear, appears to have come alive at the plate, going 22-for-76 (.289) with six doubles, and 14 runs scored in 26 games over the last month to raise her season batting average to .248. Last year, she was second on the team with a .383 batting average and 29 RBI to earn first team All-Horizon League honors.

NEXT UP: If the Vikings win the Horizon League Championship title, CSU would advance to one of 16 four-team regionals in the 2008 NCAA Softball Championships. The regionals will be held from Thursday, May 15 through Saturday, May 17.