Cleveland State's Toman, Knight Sweep Softball Awards

INDIANAPOLIS -- Cleveland State senior Dara Toman (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville Central) has been named Horizon League Softball Player of the Week, while Vikings freshman Susan Knight (Milan, Ohio/Edison) has earned Horizon League Softball Pitcher of the Week honors, for the week of Feb. 11-17.

The duo led Cleveland State (3-6) to a 3-1 record during the CSU Dome Tournament over the weekend. The Vikings won their first three games of tournament, knocking off Bucknell by 3-0 and 6-2 scores, along with posting a 7-4 victory over Canisius ahead of a 7-2 loss to St. Bonaventure.

Toman, who earned First Team All-Horizon League recognition last season after slugging 19 home runs, went 6-for-11 at the plate, clubbing her first homer of the season and driving in three. After going 3-for-6 with two runs and an RBI in the Vikings’ 2-0 opening day, Toman saved her finest performance for CSU’s 6-2 win over Bucknell. In the top of the eighth inning, Toman slugged her homer, a two-run shot, as the Vikings scored four runs in the inning to win.

Knight started three games for Cleveland State across the two days, tossing complete games in all three Viking victories. The freshman opened the tournament with a seven-strikeout performance in shutting out Bucknell, following it up by allowing two earned runs across seven innings versus Canisius.

The freshman went all eight innings in Cleveland State’s win over Bucknell the following day, scattering six hits and allowing just one earned run. On the week, Knight posted a 0.84 ERA, striking out 11 while opponents hit just .204 against her.

Cleveland State will be off this week before resuming the non-conference portion of its schedule at the University of Evansville Tournament, March 2-3. The Vikings will face Austin Peay and the host Purple Aces on Friday, March 2, ahead of games against IUPUI and Austin Peay.

Softball Player of the Week:
Feb. 12:    Joylyn Ichiyama, Valparaiso
Feb. 19:    Dara Toman, Cleveland State                                                                                                   

Softball Pitcher of the Week:
Feb. 12:    Sierra Pico, Valparaiso
Feb. 19:    Susan Knight, Cleveland State