April 3, 2010
Final Stats
Contact: Brian McCann
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Freshmen Tess Sito threw a complete game six-hitter and senior Lia Gordon tied the CSU record for career home runs as the Vikings defeated UIC, 6-1, on Saturday afternoon to go 2-1 in the three-game series.
Cleveland State improves to 21-8 overall and 2-1 in league play while UIC slips to 8-24 overall and 1-2 in the Horizon League.
"This was our kind of game today," CSU head coach Angie Nicholson said. "We just went to work, put runners on, moved them around and took advantage of our opportunities. We hit two home runs, but we didn't wait for them. The home runs will happen when they happen so it is important that we continue to get runners on and move them around the bases.
"We played so terribly in the first game yesterday so it is good that we bounced back and played so well today. There wasn't a phase of the game in which we executed poorly," she added.
Freshman Gabby Gillilan got things going in the second when she hit a solo home run to left field with one out to put CSU ahead, 1-0.
The Vikings added three in the third to jump out to a 4-0 lead. Jessica Burt led off with a walk and stole second, her 19th steal in as many attempts this season. Burt came into score on a single to right field by Sito to put CSU ahead, 1-0. After Sito stole second, Gordon followed with a two-run blast to left center. It was Gordon's fourth HR of the season and 21st in her career, tying the Amy Jauert's (1995-98) school record.
"Lia's home run really broke the game open for us because it gave us a little breathing room," Nicholson said. "She has been such an important part of our lineup the last two years because of her ability to produce runs with one swing of the bat. I am happy that she was able to tie the record at home in such an important game."
CSU added two more runs in the fourth to make it 6-0. With Burt on first and pinch runner Caila Ferro on second, the Vikings perfectly executed a hit and run with Megan Bashak drilling a single to center to score both runners.
UIC's lone run came in the fifth when Ashley Hewett doubled to score Melinda Macias.
That was all the Flames could manage off Sito, who improved to 2-0 by scattering six hits in seven innings, striking out four and walking two.
"Tess really did a nice job this weekend in the circle," Nicholson said. "She had been having some elbow pain for most of the preseason and is finally healthy enough to pitch at the level that she is capable of. All we have to do is get her strength and endurance back up and we will have the best one-two pitching combo in the league."
Besides her work in the circle, Sito went two-for-two at the plate, driving in her team-leading 26th run. She also stole two bases to giver her 23 on the season, moving her into 8th place on the CSU single season list.
Sophomore Megan Bashak, who has been slow to come back offensively since breaking her wrist last season, went two-for-three with a pair of RBIs to complete a three-hit, .429 batting average for the weekend.
The Vikings continue Horizon League play on Tuesday (April 6) when CSU hosts Detroit for a doubleheader starting at 5:00 p.m. at Viking Field.
