March 5, 2006

Game 1 | Game 2

RICHMOND, Ky. - Cleveland State rebounded from its first loss of the season to claim the Eastern Kentucky Invitational with a 3-0 victory over the host Colonels in the championship game on Sunday afternoon. With the win, the Vikings improve to 3-1 on the year, while EKU falls to 6-7.

As it had in each of the previous three games, CSU jumped on top in the first inning. Michelle Nicholas got things going with a one-out single, moving to second with a stolen base. She then came around to score on a Michele Penney double. J.J. Thornberry followed with an RBI single, driving in Penney.

That would be all starter Kortney Spidell would need as she tossed her seventh career shutout to improve to 2-0 on the year, surrendering just five hits in the process.

"I'm really proud of how we played this weekend -- we came in here expecting to win," CSU head coach Julie Jones said. "We scored first in every game and it makes things a lot easier when you come out of the gates ready to go. I also thought Kortney looked a lot more relaxed today in the circle."

Penney went 3-for-3 in the second game, finishing the tournament with a .615 average (8-for-13).

Eastern Kentucky had prevailed, 3-1, in the completion of pool play earlier in the morning. Kelsey Anderson (4-2) held the Vikings in check, limiting them to single hits in the first and sixth innings. Grace Luginbuhl (1-1) took the loss, surrendering six hits and three runs while striking out five.

The Colonels finished 3-0 in pool play, while CSU was second at 2-1. Dayton went 1-2, while IUPUI was 0-3. The Flyers defeated the Jaguars in the consolation game.

Cleveland State is next in action when the Vikings travel to Kissimmee, Fla. for the Rebel Spring Games on March 12-16. CSU will play a total of 10 games in five days.