Cleveland, OH-The Cleveland State softball team is set to open the 2025 Horizon League Softball Championship tomorrow. Cleveland State enters the tournament as the top seed and will take the field in its home stadium in postseason play for the first time in 15 years. The Vikings begin the tournament run in the first game of the day scheduled for a noon first pitch.
 
The Vikings will face no. 4 seed Purdue Fort Wayne who defeated no. 5. Northern Kentucky in the first game of the tournament on Wednesday afternoon. Cleveland State took two of three from the Mastodons on the road in the regular season and this will be the first time the two teams will square off at Viking Field this season. The winner will meet the winner of Robert Morris and Green Bay who will face off in the second game of the day on Thursday.
 
The Vikings were well represented on the Horizon League All-League teams and specialty awards list announced earlier this week after finishing the regular season with a 17-7 overall record in league play good for first place. Senior Melissa Holzopfel was named the 2025 Horizon League Pitcher of the Year and head coach Amy Kyler was named the Coach of the Year. Senior Brooke Albaugh took home the Sportsmanship Award. Emma Gilkerson was named First-Team All-Horizon League and Delaney Ellis was named to the All-Freshman Team.
 
Cleveland State is the defending Horizon League Tournament Champion after winning the title last season at Youngstown State. The Vikings defeated Northern Kentucky in the championship game to claim the program's first trip to the NCAA Tournament in 15 years.
 
Tickets for the event are on sale and available for each day of the tournament which is scheduled to run through Saturday. Tickets are available for single-session days as well as an all-session pass good for all days of play. All seating at Viking Field is general admission. Tickets can be purchased at this link.
 
Stay up to date with all of the action throughout the week by visiting Horizon League Tournament Central. All games of the tournament will be broadcast live on ESPN+.