April 27, 2008
Final Stats
Contact: Brian McCann
CHICAGO, Ill. -- Katelyn Ciminelli doubled home Christa Coppus in the fourth inning for the lone Viking run and Amanda Macenko struck out nine in posting her 23rd win of the season as Cleveland State completed the three-game sweep of Loyola by claiming a 1-0 win on Sunday at the Loyola Softball Park.
The win improved CSU to 28-13 overall and 13-3 in Horizon League play and, combined with a 13-5 Valparaiso win over Youngstown State on Sunday gives the Vikings a 1.5 game lead over Valpo heading into the final weekend of league play.
Cleveland State will host the Crusdaders for a three-game series on May 3-4, needing to win just one game to clinch the regular season title and the top seed in the upcoming Horizon League Championship.
"This was a championship game atmosphere today and we really came through," CSU head coach Angie Nicholson said. "The pitching from both sides was outstanding and we were fortunate to get a big hit when the opportunity came.
"Loyola seemed to have a scoring opportunity in every inning so any little mistake could have cost us the game but we didn't make any.
"Amanda wasn't as sharp as she has been but she sure knuckled down when Loyola had scoring opportunities and shut the door."
The Vikings scored the lone run of the game in the fourth when Jessica Burt led of by being safe on an error and was forced at second on a sacrifice attempt by Coppus. Amanda Houchin then sacrificed Coppus to second and Ciminelli followed with a double down the left field line with Coppus easily scoring.
Loyola had at least one baserunner on in every inning and had several good scoring chances.
In the bottom of the fourth, Katerina Klause led off with a double to center and advanced to third with on a sacrifice with one out but Macenko induced a pair of easy ground balls to end the inning.
The Ramblers had runners at second and third with two outs in the fifth before Angie Funston fouled out to third base to end the inning.
In the seventh, Nora Schober had a two-out single to left center but Stephanie Cihlar followed with a ground out to third to end the game.
Macenko scattered seven hits, striking out nine and walking one in seven innings to improve to 23-10 on the season and 13-3 in Horizon League play.
The Vikings close the regular season with seven games this week, five of which will come at Viking Field. CSU will play a doubleheader at Niagara on Tuesday (April 29) and host Kent State for a twinbill at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday (April 30) before hosting Valparaiso for the Horizon League deciding three game series over the weekend.
