March 2008

Guins Drop Both Ends of Doubleheader at Loyola, 9-1, 6-1
Sunday, March 30 2008
Courtesy of:
Chicago, Ill. -- The Youngstown State softball team fell to 2-13 overall and 0-2 in the Horizon League after dropping a Horizon League doubleheader to Loyola (8-12, 3-1 Horizon League), 9-1, and 6-1, on Saturday afternoon at the Loyola Softball Field.

In the opener, senior Bethany Hafley hit her first career home run for the Penguins' only hit in the 9-1 loss.

Loyola used a four-run first inning and plated one run in the third frame, two runs in the fourth and fifth innings to reach the mercy rule.

In the nightcap, senior Jamie Fornal drilled her first home run of the season for YSU's lone score. Hafley and sophomore Kristin Bair also collected singles for the Guins.

The Guins and Ramblers close out the three-game series, Sunday, March 30. First pitch is slated for Noon (EDT).
 
 
Thursday, March 27 2008
Courtesy of: Chase's Two-Hit Gem Leads Guins to Softball Split at Akron
Akron, Ohio -- Sophomore Danielle Chase fired a two-hit, complete game shutout with five strikeouts and the Penguins offense banged out 12 hits to lead the Youngstown State softball team to an 8-0 win over Akron on Wednesday afternoon at Lee Jackson Field. In the nightcap, the Guins posted 10 hits but dropped an 8-7 decision to the Zips.

In the opener, senior Jamie Fornal went 3-for-3 with two runs scored while Bethany Hafley drilled two doubles and drove in three runs and McKenzie Bedra was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and belted a two-run home run.

Sophomore Kristin Bair, who went 2-for-3, tripled and scored on a throwing error to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Bedra reached on a fielder's choice and scored on Fornal's double to put the Guins up 2-0.

Youngstown State scored three in the top of the third - two on a double by Hafley and one on Becky Hibner's sacrifice fly - and three more in the top of the fourth.

In the fourth inning, Katy Potokar was hit by a pitch and scored on Bedra's third home run of the season. Fornal followed with a single and scored on Halfey's second two-bagger.

In the nightcap, Youngstown State squandered a four-run lead and Lisa McLean's two-out triple to right-center field in the bottom of the seventh inning scored Jenn Stottlemeyer to give the Zips an 8-7 victory.

Bair went 2-for-4 with a double and a run batted in while Hibner drove in two runs and went 2-for-3 with a double.

The Penguins open Horizon League play against Loyola, Saturday, March 29. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. EDT in Chicago, Ill.
 
 
Bedra, Chase Lead Penguins to 6-2 Win Over Michigan State
Monday, March 24 2008
Courtesy of:
Oxford, Ohio -- Senior McKenzie Bedra went 2-of-4 with a three-run home run and four runs batted in and sophomore Danielle Chase fired a five-hit complete game to lead the YSU softball team (1-10) to a 6-2 win over Michigan State on Sunday morning at the Best Western Miami Invitational. The Penguins also dropped a 5-1 decision to Penn State.

After falling behind 1-0 after the top of the first, Bedra belted her second home run of the season to put the Guins ahead 3-1. Senior Bethany Hafley's sacrifice fly plated Jamie Fornal to give the Guins a three-run advantage.

The Spartans cut the lead in half in the top of the fourth but Katy Potokar answered with a run-scoring single to extend the YSU lead to 5-2.

Bedra's two-out single in the bottom of the sixth inning ended the game's scoring.

Against Penn State, Bedra went 2-for-3 and Fornal drove in the Penguins with a single in the third.

The Penguins visit Akron, Wednesday, March 26, at 2 p.m.
 
 
Miscues Lead to Two Softball Losses on Day One at Miami Invite
Saturday, March 22 2008
Courtesy of:
Oxford, Ohio -- The Youngstown State bats came alive with 11 hits, but seven errors led to 11 unearned runs as the Penguins softball team (0-9) dropped a 14-9 decision to Toledo on Friday afternoon at the Best Western Miami Invitational. The Guins also lost to Miami, 4-1.

With the game tied, 2-2, after two-and-a-half innings, the Rockets scored eight runs on four Penguins errors in the bottom half of the third inning to take a 10-2 lead.

The Penguins plated seven runs in the top of the fifth to cut the deficit to one, 10-9. Freshman Katy Potokar and senior McKenzie Bedra hit back-to-back home runs to begin the rally.

Sophomore Autumn Grove's bases-loaded two-run single plated Kim Klonowski and Kristen McDonnell to cut the lead to 10-6.

Potokar's two-out, base-loaded single scored Bethany Hafley to make the score, 10-7. Grove and Becky Hibner also scored to bring the Guins within one.

Toledo, though, scored one in the bottom of the fifth and three more unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth to put the game away.

In the opener against Miami, freshman Rochelle Vanyi went 2-for-4 and belted her third home run of the season in the 4-1 loss.

The Penguins take on Miami, Saturday, at 4 p.m.