April 8, 2008
Final Stats
Contact: Brian McCann
YPSILANTI, Mich. - Katelyn Ciminelli and Christa Coppus each drove in a pair of runs and Brittany Bate threw a complete game six-hitter as Cleveland State rallied to split a doubleheader against Eastern Michigan, winning the nightcap, 5-1, after falling in the first game, 3-1.
The split moves Cleveland State's record to 16-9 while Eastern Michigan drops to 8-16.
"We had another up and down day," CSU head coach Angie Nicholson said. "We had every opportunity to win the first game, but couldn't come up with any big hits.
"The second game was just the opposite and we were able to string together hits to score some runs. We just need to find some consistency."
After turning in a strong showing in relief at Robert Morris last week, freshman Brittany Bate earned her third start of the season, allowing one run in seven innings, striking out five while scattering six hits to improve to 3-0 on the season.
"Brittany threw an awesome game today," Nicholson said. "She threw hard, hit her locations and refused to get rattled. It was her best performance of the season."
The Vikings opened the scoring in the top of the third when Jessica Burt led off with a triple. Two outs later, Amanda Houchin singled to center to score Burt and then came around to score on a double by Coppus to make it 2-0.
CSU extended the lead to 4-0 in the fifth when Ciminelli hit a bases loaded double to score Whitney Willard and Houchin.
Ciminelli had three RBI raise her season total to 10, becoming the sixth player on the team with double figure RBIs.
The Eagles scored their lone run in the sixth when Heather Han doubled home Lauren Delapaz. The Vikings got the run right back however when Coppus launched her second home run of the season, a blast to left field in the top of the seventh.
Coppus continues to swing the hot bat for CSU, going three-for-five in the doubleheader with two walks, two doubles and two RBI to raise her team-leading season batting average to .416. She has now hit in seven straight games.
The Vikings opened the scoring in the first inning of the first game. With one out, Danielle Young doubled and Houchin and Coppus followed with back-to-back walks to load the bases. Ciminelli was hit by a pitch to bring home Young but the rally would end there as back-to-back strikeouts by Haley Keler and Natalie DeMatteis ended the inning.
Houchin, who nine days ago was hitting just .196, extended her hitting streak to six games by going two-for-five in the twinbill. She is now hitting .246.
Eastern Michigan came right back, tying the game on a leadoff homerun by Jenny Scherer in the bottom of the first. Ashley Strauss put the Eagles on top one out later when she hit a solo homerun to right.
"Eastern came out very aggressive and startled Amanda (Macenko) a bit," Nicholson said. "It took her a little bit to get her composure, but once she did, she was fine."
Macenko went the distance for CSU, dropping to 11-8 on the year. She gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits striking out three and walking a season-high three.
The Eagles added an insurance run in the sixth Heather Giroux hit a one out double to center to score Lindsay Ritz.
Kari Chambers picked up the win for EMU, allowing just three hits and walking four with seven strikeouts.
The Vikings return home to host Detroit for a Horizon League doubleheader on Thursday (April 10) beginning at 2:00 p.m. at Viking Field.
