Murray, KY-The Cleveland State softball team had a strong start to its third weekend of competition as the Vikings defeated Akron and host Murray State on Friday to start 2-0 in the Racer Invitational. Cleveland State improves to 5-10 on the season and will have two more games tomorrow to finish out the tournament.
 
In the opener against Akron a three-run fifth inning was the difference as the Vikings claimed a 3-2 win. Akron scored single runs in the top of the fourth and fifth innings to go up 2-0 but the Vikings responded in the bottom of the fifth. A walk, a single and a passed ball put runners at second and third with nobody out. Marley Queen hit a sacrifice fly which brought home Delaney Ellis for the first run of the inning. Haley West then followed with an RBI double to left field scoring Peyton Mueller Stenz. West advanced to third on the throw home which allowed Brooke Albaugh to plate her with a single up the middle.
 
Melissa Holzopfel retired the final six Akron hitters she faced in the sixth and seventh innings to secure the victory. Holzopfel pitched a complete-game and allowed two earned runs while striking out six for her first win of the season.
 
In the second game Cleveland State raced out to a 6-0 lead and rolled to a 7-3 win over Murray State. The Vikings used a sac fly, a bases loaded walk and a bunt single to manufacture the first three runs of the game. Mueller Stenz dealt the big blow in the third inning, a bases-clearing three-RBI triple that broke the game open and made it 6-0 Vikings.
 
Avery Robinson got the win in the circle allowing just four hits and striking out three in the first three innings. Katie McDonald came on and pitched the final four innings without allowing a run and striking out two. Holzopfel and Emma Gilkerson each recorded mutli-hit games in the second game of the day.
 
Cleveland State returns to the diamond tomorrow for two more games as the Vikings once again match up against Akron and Murray State. The first game against Akron is scheduled to start at 10:00 a.m.