March 4, 2006

Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box

RICHMOND, Ky. - Cleveland State opened the 2006 season with a pair of victories at the Eastern Kentucky Invitational on Saturday afternoon. The Vikings upended Dayton, 8-3, and IUPUI, 4-2, to begin 2-0 for the first time since the 1997 campaign.

Michele Penney got CSU on the board in the top of the first against the Flyers, lacing a two-run double with one out. She then came around to score two batters later on the back end of a double-steal attempt.

CSU would add two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings and capped the scoring off with a J.J. Thornberry solo home run in the seventh as it scored five unearned runs on four Dayton errors.

Grace Luginbuhl went the distance in the circle, allowing six hits and three runs while striking out four.

Penny finished with three hits, while Amber Lowe and Thornberry both collected a pair of base knocks.

The Vikings jumped out early again in game two, this time scoring three times in the bottom of the first. Christa Coppus walked to start a two-out rally. She stole second base and came around to score when Penney reached on an error. Thornberry then followed with her second home run of the day.

After IUPUI plated single runs in the fifth and sixth, CSU added an insurance run in its half of the sixth. Penney led off with a double, advanced to third on a ground out and came around to score on an Amanda Houchin single.

The four runs were more than enough for Kortney Spidell, who was making her return to the circle after missing all of last season with an injury. She tossed a complete game, giving up five hits and two runs while fanning three.

Penney collected two more hits to finish the day 5-for-7 with four runs scored.

"We played very well in all facets of the game today," CSU head coach Julie Jones said. "J.J. and Penney hit the ball hard all over the place and our pitchers were able to come up with big outs when we needed them."

The Vikings close out the round robin portion of the tournament with an 11:00 a.m. meeting with Eastern Kentucky on Sunday (March 5). The two teams, who both went 2-0 on day one, will then meet again at 3:00 p.m. in the tournament title game.