May 15, 2010
Final Stats
Contact: Brian McCann
CLEVELAND - No. 2 seed Wright State (30-28-1) upended No. 1 seed Cleveland State (44-15), 8-3 and 6-3, on Saturday to claim the 2010 Horizon League Softball Championship. The Raiders earn their third title in the last four years and pick up the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
This was the sixth time in eight years that Cleveland State played in the title game, winning the championship in 2009.
"This was a very tough day for us," CSU head coach Angie Nicholson said. "I felt like we were out of sync offensively during the tournament and it really hurt us today.
"We've had the ability to battle back and overcome deficits all season long, but today we just didn't have it. Amanda (Macenko) was throwing well, but Wright State is a great offensive team and they were hitting everything she threw.
"I really feel bad for our seniors -- Amanda, Lia Gordon and Mimi Mahon -- because they worked so hard to help this team be successful, but they are leaving without achieving the team's biggest goal and that is unfortunate. We are going to miss them," Nicholson added.
Wright State jumped on the scoreboard first in the third inning as Louie Haney singled to left center, scoring teammate Katie Kine. On the next series, Kristen Bradshaw stole third and continued home on an error by the CSU shortstop. To finish the offensive onslaught, Frost connected on an infield-RBI single, bringing the WSU lead to 3-0.
Raider Mollie Berry extended the Wright State advantage to 4-0 as she scored off a bases-loaded walk in the top of the fourth inning.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Vikings retaliated as freshman slugger Dara Toman belted a three-run homer, bringing CSU back to within one at 4-3. Her 16th jack of the season bounced off the top of the left-center fence and out of the park.
The Raiders added two insurance runs in the fifth inning off an RBI double from senior Jamie Perkins and an RBI-infield single form Berry, securing the 6-3 victory.
The day started with CSU dropping an 8-3 decision in the first meeting with the Raiders.
The Vikings jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Lia Gordon executed a well-placed bunt, sending home teammate Jessica Burt. Katelyn Ciminelli provided the second run as Amy Powell grounded out to the WSU shortstop for the RBI.
Wright State quickly answered in the top of the second off a two-run homer from senior Allison Cox, her third of the season, knotting the game at 2-2.
Cleveland State took little time regaining the lead as Horizon League Player of the Year Tess Sito jacked a solo homer to right center, her 18th of season, yielding a 3-2 score.
In the top of the fifth inning, First-Team All-Leaguer China Frost smacked a single to right field, driving in two runs as the Raiders owned a 4-3 edge.
Wright State furthered its lead to 8-3 in the sixth inning as junior Louie Haney hit a two-RBI single up the middle to start the four-run rally. In the very next sequence, Frost drove in Kristen Bradshaw on a fielder's choice and Jamie Perkins recorded a sacrifice fly to left field as Haney safely trotted home.
Horizon League All-Tournament Team
Jenny Esparza, Fr., Butler
Jessica Burt, Jr., Cleveland State
Amanda Macenko, Sr., Cleveland State
Amy Powell, Jr., Cleveland State
Alex Lagesse, So., Valparaiso
Kristen Bradshaw, Sr., Wright State (MVP)
Allison Cox, Sr., Wright State
Melanie Heyne, Sr., Wright State
Justine Shilt, Jr., Wright State
Batting Champion: Justine Shilt, Jr., Wright State
Defensive Player of the Championship: Kristen Bradshaw, Sr., Wright State
Pitcher of the Championship: Melanie Heyne, Sr., Wright State
