By: Jill Wunrow
GreenBayPhoenix.com
GREEN BAY, Wis.
(GreenBayPhoenix.com) - After the Green Bay
(18-19, 7-7 HL) softball team edged Cleveland State (13-33, 5-9 HL) 5-4 in game one of its
doubleheader series, the Phoenix broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fifth with
a sacrifice fly to seal the 2-1 series win.
GAME
1 - CLEVELAND STATE 4, GREEN BAY 5 - The
Vikings got on the board in the first inning when reigning co-Horizon League
Player of the Week Dara Toman stole third base before advancing home on the
Phoenix throw for the 1-0 lead.
With two outs and the bases loaded in
the second inning for Cleveland State, Megan Bashak grounded out to pitcher Ashley Nannemann (Burlington, Wis.) to get the Phoenix out of the inning. The Vikings
had two hits and stranded three runners on base.
With two outs in the bottom of the
second, Shannon Butts (Greenfield, Wis.) hit a deep ball to right center field
for the double. Ashleigh Racer (Waterford, Wis.) followed up with a single to
the pitcher, advancing Butts to third. Amanda Pozolinski (Appleton, Wis.) earned
a walk to load the bases before Amanda Omahen (San Diego, Calif.) hit a deep
ball to the right field fence, clearing the bases for the 3-1 lead and RBI
double. Omahen was later stranded on base as the Phoenix scored three runs on
three hits in the inning.
Caila Ferro hit an RBI single to
left-center field for the Vikings with two outs in the third inning, cutting
the Green Bay lead to 3-2. Hannah Yoe hit a pop up to second base as Omahen
made a diving catch for the third out as Ferro was approaching the base.
Alli Rivera (Geneseo, Ill.), Paige Newtols (Green Bay, Wis.) and Shannon Butts all hit singles in the bottom of
the third with two outs on the board. With the bases loaded, Racer hit a line
drive to first base, retiring the inning as Just as it did the Phoenix recorded
three hits but stranded three runners on base.
Pozolinski led off the bottom of the
fourth with a deep double to left-center field. Four batters later, Miranda Reinke (Milwaukee, Wis.) hit an RBI single to shortstop, advancing Omahen to
third and scoring Pozolinski for the 4-2 lead. Stacey Butts (Greenfield, Wis.) reached
on an error by first baseman, scoring Omahen. With two outs and the bases
loaded, Shannon Butts hit a fly ball to left field, closing the inning with two
runs for the Phoenix on three hits.
The Vikings added an RBI single in the
fifth inning with two outs on the board before the Vikings hit a pop up to end
the inning, scoring one run on three hits while stranding three runners. With
two outs in the top of the sixth, the Vikings' Sara Shields hit an RBI single
to center field to cut the Green Bay lead to 5-4.
Green Bay stranded one runner in the
bottom of the sixth inning before retiring the side in the top of the seventh,
sealing the 5-4 win.
Nannemann picked up her 11th win of the
season, pitching her 10th complete game while striking out five batters. Omahen
went 3-for-2 for the Phoenix from behind the plate with three RBIs.
GAME
2 - CLEVELAND STATE 1, GREEN BAY 2 - Just
like in game one of the series, Cleveland State scored in the first inning.
With three runners on base, Green Bay was called for an illegal pitch, giving
the Vikings the 1-0 lead at the end of the inning.
Omahen tied the game 1-1 with a lead-off
homerun to left-center field in the bottom of the first. The homer was Omahen's
fifth of her career and third of the season.
After three-and-a-half scoreless
innings, Pozolinski led off the bottom of the fifth with a single to right
field before Omahen reached on a fielder's choice, advancing Pozolinski to
third on an error by the second baseman. Peerenboom followed with a sacrifice
fly to right field, scoring Pozolinski for the 2-1 Phoenix lead.
Green Bay retired the side in the top of
the sixth before registering two hits on offense in the bottom of the frame.
The Phoenix once again retired the side in the seventh, sealing the 2-1 win.
Pitcher Alli Goecks (Beloit, Wis.) went
the distance for the Phoenix, improving to 6-7 on the season, while striking
out seven batters and allowing just three hits.
The Phoenix and Vikings will wrap up the
three-game series Sunday, April 22 at 11:00 a.m. at Ben Garot Field, wrapping
up its nine-game homestand. Throughout the series Green Bay is striking out
Muscular dystrophy by selling t-shirts for $10 each in addition to a 50/50
raffle. Proceeds from the weekend events will benefit MD needs in the Green Bay
area.
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