May 10, 2008

Final Stats

Contact: Brian McCann

CHICAGO, Ill. - Christina Stoffer's pinch hit two RBI triple in the sixth broke open a tight game and Amanda Macenko threw a three-hit shutout to tie her own school record for wins in a season as the Vikings routed Loyola, 5-0, to advance to face Wright State in the Horizon League title game.

Macenko, who improved to 26-13, dominated from within the circle, striking out seven and allowing just one baserunner past second base.

The Vikings opened the scoring in the first when Jessica Burt beat out an infield single with two outs and then stole second. Christa Coppus followed with a grounder to short that Loyola misplayed. Coppus rounded first and continued on to second, drawing a throw. Burt then broke for the plate, beating the throw by a few feet to give CSU a 1-0 lead.

That run would hold until the bottom of the sixth when Burt led off with a double and Coppus followed with an infield single. Burt took third on the play with Coppus advancing to second in an attempt to draw a throw. Katelyn Ciminelli then bounced to the pitcher but Krista Crosson's throw sailed over the head of the first baseman and down the right field line, allowing Burt and Coppus to score.

The inning wasn't over as Amanda Houchin reached on a fielder's choice with Ciminelli being thrown out at the plate, and Lia Gordon walked. Stoffer, who was hitless in three at bats this season while playing just eight games, lined a triple into the gap in rightcenter, allowing Houchin and Gordon to score.

CSU advances to play Wright State, who emerged from the winner's side of the pool with a 3-0 record. The Vikings will need to defeat the Raiders twice today in order to win the tourney title. A loss will give the title to Wright State.