Rochester, MI-The Cleveland State softball team secured its first Horizon League regular season championship in 15 years with a 10-5 win in the first game of a doubleheader at Oakland on Saturday afternoon. The Vikings split the final two games of the 2025 regular season to finish with a 22-19 overall record and a 17-7 record in league play.
 
Cleveland State took control early in game one with Emma Gilkerson launching a three-run home run to left center field to give the Vikings the early lead in the top of the first. Oakland responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame to make it 3-2 Vikings after the first inning.
 
Cleveland State broke the game open in the third inning as the Vikings sent 12 hitters to the plate and scored seven times to take a 10-3 lead. Gilkerson started the rally with a two-run single to left that brought home Brooke Albaugh and Sydney Shammo. Destiny Ruggiero followed with a ground ball to third that went for an error and scored two more runs, as Delaney Ellis and Gilkerson crossed the plate. Cleveland State scored three more in the inning thank to a Haley West single and two more Oakland errors. All totaled Cleveland State finished the inning with four hits and three Oakland errors to take the commanding lead.
 
The seven-run cushion was more than enough for Melissa Holzopfel who claimed her 16^th victory of the season as she went the distance in a complete game scattering eight hits. Holzopfel struck out five and walked only one hitter.
 
Gilkerson had a huge day at the plate finishing 2-for-3 with five RBI and two runs scored. Cleveland State finished with eight hits as Gilkerson and Holzopfel each had multi-hit performances.
 
Oakland took the second game of the day 8-0 to earn the split in the doubleheader.
 
With the victory in the first game Cleveland State clinches the top seed in next week's Horizon League Softball Championship and will host the event at Viking Field. Games are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, May 7 and run through Saturday, May 10. Tickets for the championship are on sale now and can be purchased at this link. Single-session tickets are available for adults at $12 and youth under the age of 12 for $10. Fans can also purchase all-session tickets good for any day of the championship for $36 for adults and $30 for youth. All seating at Viking Field will be general admission.
 
As the top seed Cleveland State will receive a first-round bye and compete in the first game of the day on Thursday, May 8 against the winner of the first game of the championship between the no. 4 seed and the no. 5 seed. Visit the Horizon League Championship Central page for more details and game times throughout the event. All games of the tournament will be broadcast live on ESPN+.