Cleveland, OH-The Cleveland State softball team fell in its opening game of the 2025 Horizon League Softball Championship at Viking Field. The top-seeded Vikings fell to no. 4 seed Purdue Fort Wayne 7-1 on Thursday. Cleveland State remains alive in the double elimination tournament format and will play again on Friday in an elimination game.
 
The Mastodons took control of a scoreless game with a six-run top of the third inning. A two-run home run from Grace Hollopeter started the scoring and PFW sent 11 hitters to the plate in the frame. The Mastodons tallied six hits in the inning and led 6-0 through three innings.
 
Melissa Holzopfel started in the circle and took the loss. She worked the first three innings before giving way to Avery Robinson for the final four innings. Robinson allowed just two hits the rest of the way.
 
Cleveland State scored its lone run in the fourth inning on an Emma Gilkerson RBI single which scored Sydney Shammo. The Vikings tallied six hits on the game but could not string a rally together in the late innings to trim the deficit.
 
Cleveland State will be in action on Friday at noon as the Vikings will play the winner of the third game of the day on Thursday in an elimination game. Visit Horizon League Tournament Central to stay up to date on the tournament throughout the weekend. Tickets can be purchased for Friday's game at this link.