April 14, 2006

Game One Stats | Game Two Stats

GREEN BAY, Wis. - At least Friday's nightcap didn't end with a walk-off hit. Unfortunately for Cleveland State, UW-Green Bay extended its winning streak to four against the Vikings with a pair of last at-bat victories at Phoenix Field. UW-Green Bay won the opener, 2-1, on a RBI double in the ninth inning before claiming game two, 4-3, by scoring the winner in the sixth.

The losses drop CSU to 20-9 overall and 5-4 in the Horizon League, while the Phoenix improves to 7-13, 4-6. UW-Green Bay ended the Vikings' season last year with a pair of walk-off home runs in the Horizon League Championship, which was also held in Green Bay.

CSU opened the scoring in the first inning of the opener when a Christa Coppus sacrifice fly scored Whitney Willard. The Phoenix knotted the score in the third on an RBI groundout.

The teams remained tied until the bottom of the ninth, when Green Bay used a two-out rally to push the winning run across. After the first two batters were retired, Kate Sullivan singled and pinch-runner Niki Pucci came around to score when Katie Groshek followed with a double to right center.

Grace Luginbuhl was the hard-luck loser, scattering nine hits while fanning five to fall to 13-5.

Lisa Meissner earned the victory, surrendering just four hits while striking out 11 to improve to 5-10.

In game two, the Phoenix jumped on top with three runs in the bottom of the second. Anna Nieznanski provided the big hit in the frame with a two-run double.

The Vikings tied the game in the sixth, using two hits, two errors two walks and a wild pitch to plate three. Michele Penney and Sarah Milosek both picked up RBI hits.

Unfortunately for CSU, Green Bay used another clutch two-out hit -- this time from Vanessa Lefan -- to plate the winning run in the home half of the sixth.

Kortney Spidell (5-3) took the loss after giving up six hits and three earned runs.

Meissner once again picked up the win to improve to 6-10. She hurled seven more innings, giving up five hits and a run while striking out 10.

The teams wrap up the series on Saturday (April 15) with a single game at noon.