Jacksonville, FL-The Cleveland State softball team fell twice on the second day of the JU/UNF Invitational. The Vikings suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Jacksonville in the first game of the day and fell to North Florida 6-2 in the nightcap.

The first game was a pitcher's duel between Cleveland State's Avery Robinson and Jacksonville's Hailey Strunk and Jacy Harrelson. The Vikings struck first on a Sydney Shammo RBI double in the third inning to take a 1-0 lead. Jacksonville responded in the fifth by putting runners at second and third thanks to a double, a sacrifice bunt, a walk and a stolen base. Haley Fox delivered a two-out two-RBI double to give the Dolphins the lead.

Cleveland State put two runners on in the seventh inning but could not push another run across. The Vikings collected eight hits in the game but left seven runners on base. Robinson went the distance in the circle striking out four and walking two.

In the second game against North Florida the Vikings took the early lead in the first inning as Emma Gilkerson hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring home Brooke Albaugh. North Florida countered with two runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead.

Haley West hit a solo home run, her first of the season, in the fourth which tied the score up at 2. UNF struck back with a four-run fifth that was ultimately the difference in the game. Cleveland State put runners on in each of the last two innings, including loading the bases in the seventh, but could not push a run across.

Katie McDonald pitched the first five innings for the Vikings with Robinson coming in for the final two. The two combined for four strikeouts.

Cleveland State will have one final game in the Sunshine State as the Vikings take on the University of Connecticut at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday.