Cleveland State stifles Butler 7-0 in Horizon League Softball Championship

Release Horizon League · @HorizonLeague · May 7, 2009

PENDLETON, Ind. - Amanda Macenko threw a three-hit shutout and Nicole DeMatteis went 3-for-3 with three runs-batted-in to lead second-seeded Cleveland State to a 7-0 victory over fifth-seeded Butler University Thursday in the fifth game of the Horizon League Softball Championship at Legends Field in Pendleton, Ind.

Macenko, who was named the League's Pitcher of the Year for the second straight season, Wednesday night, was dominant throughout, striking out nine with only one walk. She did not allow a runner past first until the seventh inning when Butler loaded the bases with one out. But Macenko enticed Alyssa Coleman into a popout to second and then struck out Annie Dolan looking to end the game.

Amanda Houchin put Cleveland State (32-15) up with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first, and Natalie DeMatteis knocked in a pair of runs with a double in the third.

The Vikings added some insurance with back-to-back home runs by Mimi Mahon and Natalie DeMatteis in the fifth. Mahon's was a two-run blast, DeMatteis' a solo shot. DeMatteis went 3-for-3 with three RBI, while Houchin was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored.

Cleveland State will play Friday at 1 p.m. ET against the winner of tonight's final game between fourth-seeded Loyola University Chicago and third-seeded Wright State University.

Butler (24-27) next plays Friday at 6 p.m. versus seventh-seeded University of Wisconsin-Green Bay or ninth-seeded University of Detroit Mercy.

Tags: Butler - Softball · Cleveland State - Softball

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