March 14, 2006

Yale Stats | Colgate Stats

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Cleveland State split its two games on Tuesday afternoon at the Rebel Games, defeating Yale, 1-0, before falling to Colgate, 3-1. Despite having their six-game winning streak snapped, the Vikings are still tied with the 1997 squad for the best 10-game start in school history at 8-2.

In the first game, CSU's Grace Luginbuhl was locked in a pitcher's duel with Yale's Deanna DiBernardi. Tied at 0-0 in the bottom of the sixth, the Vikings finally broke through with a two-out rally.

After Whitney Willard walked, Christa Coppus and Luginbuhl followed with singles to load the bases. Willard then scored the game's only run on a wild pitch.

The Bulldogs appeared as though they were going to at least tie the game in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with just one out. However, Luginbuhl induced a 1-2-3 double play to end the game.

Luginbuhl gave up just four hits while striking out 10 to improve to 4-1 on the year.

DiBernardi (1-2) took the loss despite surrendering just three hits while fanning six.

Coppus got game two started with a bang, launching her first career home run over the left field fence with one out in the top of the first. Unfortunately, that would be all the offense CSU could muster, as Colgate's Kate Howard gave up just two hits the rest of the way, striking out seven to move to 4-1 on the year.

It appeared for four innings as though Kortney Spidell would make the run stand up. However, the Raiders struck for three two-out runs in the bottom of the fifth. Ashley Rowe had the big hit in the frame, driving in a pair with a single up the middle.

Spidell (4-1) suffered her first loss of the season, giving up 10 hits and a pair of earned runs.

"It's hard to be upset with one loss, but we really feel like we can win every game," head coach Julie Jones said. "Unfortunately, our offense is struggling a little right now, but our pitching continues to put us in a position to be successful."

The Vikings play two more games on Wednesday, squaring off against Maine at 4:10 p.m. and Bucknell at 6:00 p.m.