Softball Falls 3-2 to Cleveland State in Horizon League Tournament

Friday, May 14

Cleveland, OH

2:30 PM

Wright State University

27-28-1

Cleveland State

44-13

Wright State

Cleveland State

Softball Falls 3-2 to Cleveland State in Horizon League Tournament

5/14/2010 12:00:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: WSU Athletic Media Relations

Wright State took a 2-1 lead with a run in the sixth, but Cleveland State answered with two in the bottom of the inning as the Vikings defeated the Raiders 3-2 in the winner's bracket finals of the Horizon League Softball Tournament in Cleveland Friday afternoon.

WSU opened the scoring with a run in the second. Justine Shilt led off with a double to left center, but appeared to be picked off as Viking catcher Amy Powell threw down to second. Shilt, though, broke for third on the play for a stolen base and scored as the ensuing throw from second hit Shilt and went into foul territory.

A wild pitch in the third allowed Cleveland State to tie the game and gave the Vikings runners at second and third with one out, but Sharon Palma pitched out of the jam with a short fly ball to left and a grounder to second.

The Raiders again took advantage of an error in regaining the lead in the sixth. WSU loaded the bases with two out on hits by Kristen Bradshaw and Jamie Perkins along with a Shilt walk, but the inning appeared to be over as Mollie Berry hit a chopper to the circle. CSU pitcher Amanda Macenko, however, could not come up with the grounder as Bradshaw scored.

Cleveland State, though, pushed across two runs in the bottom of the sixth on a Mimi Mahon hit to right and a walk to Jessica Burt with the bases loaded and Macenko (38-13) held off the Raiders in the top of the seventh for the victory.

The loss snapped a nine-game conference tournament winning streak for the Raiders at Viking Field as WSU went 4-0 in taking the title in 2003, 4-0 again in 2007 and won their first tournament game this season against Butler.

Shilt led the way offensively for WSU with two hits. Palma (7-11) was the tough-luck loser, scattering seven hits in 5.1 innings.

Wright State (27-28-1) faces Valparaiso (35-20) in the loser's bracket final Saturday morning at 10:00. The winner then takes on Cleveland State (44-13) for the Horizon League title and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament starting at noon.