March 13, 2007

Lafayette Stats | Manhattan Stats

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Cleveland State used timely hitting and solid pitching to pick up a pair of victories on Tuesday at the Rebel Spring Games. The Vikings topped Lafayette, 8-3, in their first game, before capping the day off with a 3-1 win over Manhattan.

Against the Leopards, CSU struck for three runs in the top of the first on a Christa Coppus sacrifice fly and a two-run double by Amanda Houchin. However, the lead was short-lived as Lafayette answered with three of their own in the bottom half of the inning.

The score would remain knotted until the fourth inning when Whitney Willard put the Vikings on top to stay with a two-out, two-run single. Houchin doubled the lead in the next inning with a two-run single of her own.

Houchin finished the game 3-for-4 with four RBI, while Willard was 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and two RBI.

Amanda Macenko earned the win to improve to 5-1 on the year. She tossed six innings in relief of starter Tara Meyer, giving up three hits while striking out three.

Megan Averbuch took the loss for the Leopards, allowing 13 hits and eight runs (five earned) in a complete game effort.

In game two, Manhattan jumped on top with a run in the first, but CSU quickly answered back in the bottom of the frame on a two-out, two-run single by Sarah Milosek. The Vikings would tack on an insurance run in the third when Willard led off with a single, stole second and third base and came around to score on a Coppus sacrifice fly.

Christina Swierz picked up her first win of the season, allowing four hits and a run while fanning five in 5.1 innings. Macenko collected her first career save after allowing just one hit in 1.2 innings.

Liz Pennino took the loss for the Jaspers, allowing six hits and three runs (two earned) in going the distance.

Milosek led the CSU offense with a pair of hits.

"We struggled a little today, but we were able to get out of some situations when the other teams could have hurt us," CSU head coach Angie Nicholson said. "Amanda and Sarah had some really clutch hits for us and we're happy to pick up two more wins."

The Vikings take to the field twice more on Wednesday, playing IUPUI at 9:00 a.m. and Colgate at 11:00 a.m.