Cleveland, OH-The Cleveland State softball team split its home-opening doubleheader at Viking Field on Friday against IU Indianapolis. Cleveland State clubbed five total home runs accounting for all of its scoring on the day. The Vikings claimed a walk-off win in the first game 5-4 and fell in the second game 8-4. Cleveland State is 4-1 in league play and IU Indy is 3-2.
 
Prior to the game the Vikings celebrated the 2024 Horizon League Tournament championship team with a banner unveiling. Players from last year's squad unveiled the banner as part of a pre-game ceremony honoring last year's team.
 
Cleveland State used the home run ball to take an early lead in game one as Delaney Ellis hit a solo shot in the fourth inning to give the Vikings the lead.
 
IU Indy struck back with two in the top of the sixth which kicked off a string of late-inning heroics. A three-run shot from Peyton Mueller Stenz with two outs in the bottom of the sixth put Cleveland State back in front 4-2. The Jaguars struck back with two in the top of the seventh to tie the score at four setting the stage for Sophie Spellman's walk-off homer in the bottom of the inning. Spellman crushed her second home run of the season over the left field fence and was mobbed by her teammates at home plate.
 
In game two, the long ball once again took center stage as Cleveland State jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Haley West and Kylie Gorsuch hit back-to-back home runs, West hit a three-run shot and Gorsuch followed with a solo home run. The home runs were West's third and Gorsuch's second of the year.
 
The Jaguars responded with eight unanswered runs to turn the tide and take the lead. IU Indy scored two in the third, five in the fourth and one in the seventh to take the game and earn the split in the doubleheader.
 
The two teams will play the series finale tomorrow in the rubber game of the three-game set. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. EST. Admission to all home softball games is free for all spectators.