Cleveland State Eliminates Butler To Open Second Day of Horizon League Baseball Championship

May 26, 2005

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

Fifth-seed Cleveland State University exploded for six runs in the first two innings and eliminated sixth-seed Butler University 9-5 Thursday in the first game of day two of the 2005 Horizon League Baseball Championship at Victory Field.


With the victory, the Vikings (14-35) advance to Friday's first game at 11 a.m. Indianapolis local time against an opponent to be determined later Thursday.


Cleveland State battered Butler starter Matt Byzet (2-4) for four runs in the first inning to grab an early lead the Vikings would never relinquish. Steve Chinn and Mike Ochwat's back-to-back singles opened the game and, one out later, Chinn scored on a wild pitch. Jeff Katlen then poked a one-out double to right center and promptly scored on Ben Smith's single up the middle.


In the second, Chinn pounded a two-run home run to left off reliever Bryan Bokowy to give the Vikings a six-run lead.


Butler (19-35) got on the board in the top of the fifth when Stephen Gill scored on a fielder's choice by Alex Rinearson, who then came home on a double by Matt Martino. But Cleveland State came right back with two more in the bottom of the inning when Kolin Kelly scored on a wild pitch by Jim Knytych and Katlen's sacrifice fly plated Dominic Erney to give the Vikings an 8-2 advantage.


Martino pulled the Bulldogs closer with his second three-run home run of the tournament in the seventh to trim Cleveland State's lead to 8-5. Martino was 3-for-5 with four runs-batted-in.


Chinn was 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored for the Vikings, while Katlen added three RBI.


Cleveland State starter Nathan Schaefer (2-4) was less than stellar, giving up four hits and five walks in five innings, but allowed only two runs in picking up the victory. Stephen Procner pitched the final four innings for his first save of the season.

Game 2123456789RHE#6 Butler000020300--571#5 Cleveland State42002010X--9111WP-Nathan Schaefer (2-4)LP-Matt Byzet (2-4)S-Stephen Procner (1)HR-CSU Steve Chinn (3), BU Matt Martino (3)Time-2:37