March 13, 2005

Monmouth Box Score | Colgate Box Score

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Cleveland State opened its weeklong stint at the Rebel Spring Games by earning a split on Saturday. The Vikings defeated Monmouth, 10-6, in the morning and fell to Colgate, 6-0, in the afternoon.

CSU scored four in the bottom of the first inning against the Hawks, using a two-RBI single by Grace Luginbuhl and tacking on two unearned runs. Monmouth answered with two in the second and four more in the third to take a 6-5 lead.

The Vikings answered with another unearned run in the bottom of the third and then regained the lead on an RBI groundout by Michele Penney. CSU capped off the scoring in the fifth, using three hits and three more Hawk errors.

Luginbuhl (1-3) struck out four in four innings of work to pick up her first win of the season. J.J. Thornberry pitched three scoreless innings to earn her first career save.

Amber Lowe paced the Vikings offensively, going 3-for-3 with two RBI and three stolen bases.

In the second contest, Colgate's Kate Howard tossed a complete game shutout, scattering six hits while striking out seven.

Lowe picked up two more hits in three more at-bats to lead CSU.

Christina Swierz surrendered three runs in 3.0 innings to fall to 1-2.

"We're still not pitching all that well, but I was obviously pleased with our offense in the first game," CSU head coach Julie Jones said. "It's a little surprising because usually it takes a little while for the hitting to catch up with the pitching."

Cleveland State continues play on Sunday (March 13), squaring off against Southeast Missouri State at 2:20 p.m. and Army at 4:10 p.m.