Cleveland, Ohio – Senior Jillian Jakse laced a two-out double in the top of the eighth inning to break a scoreless tie as the Youngstown State softball team knocked off Cleveland State on Thursday afternoon at Viking Field.

Jakse's run-scoring hit was all the offense senior Sophie Howell needed to pick up her 20th win of the season. Howell fired a four-hit, complete-game shutout and fanned six Cleveland State batters.

With the win, Youngstown State improves to 32-14 overall and 16-3 in Horizon League play while Cleveland State falls to 15-21 overall and 11-8 in league play. The 32 wins are tied for the third most in school history.

Howell out-dueled Cleveland State starter Melissa Holzopfel, who allowed just three hits and struck out 15 batters.

Wilkerson kept the Penguins alive in the eighth with a two-out infield single to shortstop. Jakse followed with a double to right field on a 2-2 count that scored Wilkerson from first base.

In the bottom half of the eighth, Howell retired the Vikings in order with a pair of ground outs and a strikeout to notch her fifth shutout of the year.

The Penguins threatened in the top of the fifth inning forcing the bases loaded with no outs after an infield single by Elyssa Imler, a hit by pitch on Conchetta Rinaldi and a walk by Macy Littler. Holzopfel worked out of the jam with a ground out and two strikeouts.

Youngstown State and Cleveland State close out the series with a doubleheader, Friday, April 26. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Viking Field.