April 8, 2006

Game One Stats | Game Two Stats

CHICAGO - Cleveland State hit the road for the first time in Horizon League play, earning a split of its doubleheader at Loyola on Saturday afternoon. The Vikings (18-7, 3-2 HL) claimed the opener, 4-2, on the strength of a season-high strikeouts from Grace Luginbuhl. However, the Ramblers (9-26, 4-3 HL) won the night cap in an 11-0 route.

CSU opened the scoring in game one when Sarah Milosek's two-out single scored pinch runner Amanda Kern in the top of the second inning.

The Vikings tacked on three more in the fifth with a pair of clutch two-out hits. With runners on second and third, Christa Coppus singled in Michelle Nicholas and Michele Penney followed with a two-run double.

Luginbuhl held Loyola in check all game, surrendering just two hits while fanning 13 -- just two shy of her career-high -- to improve to 11-4. The only runs she gave up came on a two-out throwing error in the sixth.

Krista Crosson allowed four runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings to fall to 4-16.

The Ramblers dominated the second contest, chasing CSU starter Kortney Spidell (5-2) with four runs in the first inning. Loyola erupted for six more in their next at-bat to put the game out of reach.

Raven Gengler and Katerina Krause both collected two hits and three RBI to lead the offensive outburst.

Rambler starter Laura DeLeon (5-7) became the first pitcher to hold the Vikings scoreless in 59 games dating back to a 1-0 loss to Florida A & M on March 18, 2005.

The teams will play the rubber game of the series on Sunday (April 9), with first pitch slated for 11:00 a.m. CDT.