| Four-Run First Leads Penguins to Split |
| Friday, April 30 2004 |
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| Canfield, Ohio -- The Youngstown State softball team (28-16) used a four-run first inning and another solid pitching performance from sophomore Kelly Murphy (14-8) to pull out a 4-2 win over Ohio (18-24) in game one of a doubleheader at McCune Park. In game two, Youngstown State exploded for six runs in the first three innings to jump out to a 6-0 advantage, but the Bobcats scored nine unanswered runs to garner the split. In the opener, senior Lacey Reichert began the Penguins' rally with a two-out double to right-center field. On the very next pitch, senior Amanda Berry drilled her seventh home run of the season to give the Penguins a 2-0 edge. After junior Char Kudlock walked and classmate Kiisha Warfield single to left field, senior Amber Smith capped YSU's scoring with a two-out, two-run double to left-center field. The Bobcats posted an unearned run in the top of the second and scored once more in the top of the fifth to cut the Penguins' lead in half, 4-2. OU threatened to tie the game in that frame with runners at second and third and one out, but Murphy, who struck out six, enticed two ground balls to third base to diffuse the threat. In the nightcap, YSU scored once in the first, twice in the second and three more in the third inning to jump out to a 6-0 advantage. Ohio capitalized on three YSU errors in the top of the fourth to slice the lead to 6-4, scoring three unearned runs. The Bobcats added three more runs in the top of the fifth sparked by Robin Miller's three-run home run and tallied two more unearned runs in the top of the sixth frame. The Penguins ripped 11 hits offensively led by Reichert, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored, Smith and senior Jenn Hartman, who each added two hits. Hartman also drove in two runs. YSU continues its homestand against Cleveland State, Thursday, May 6. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. |
| Warfield Selected For NCAA Leadership Conference |
| Friday, April 30 2004 |
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| Indianapolis, Ind. – Youngstown State University junior softball player Kiisha Warfield (Lordstown, Ohio) is one of 321 NCAA student-athletes who have been selected to participate in the Eighth Annual NCAA Leadership Conference, May 30-June 3 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort and the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., the association announced. At the 2004 NCAA Leadership Conference, student-athletes have the opportunity to discuss key issues in intercollegiate athletics and focus on enhancing their leadership skills. The conference is also designed to improve communication skills and to enable them to become more effective motivators when they return to their campuses. The convention setting provides student-athletes the chance to examine topics that effect them on their campuses and provides them with exercises to enhance their decision-making and problem-solving, and improve planning and priority management. |
| Kudlock's Blasts Lead YSU to Split at Niagara |
| Friday, April 30 2004 |
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| Niagara University, N.Y. -- Youngstown State junior Char Kudlock blasted two home runs, including just the seventh grand slam in school history, to lead the Penguins softball team (27-15) to a 6-4 victory over Niagara in game one of a doubleheader on Wednesday at Niagara Field. The Penguins lost game two, 8-7. Kudlock drilled her fourth home run of the year in the top of the fourth inning. After the Purple Eagles tied the contest, 4-4, with runs in the bottom of the third, fourth and fifth innings, the native of Conneaut, Ohio, blasted her second homer, a two run shot, in the top of the seventh inning to give the Penguins the victory. Senior Amanda Berry also collected three hits for the Penguins in the opener while freshman Karlie Burnell picked up her ninth win of the season after tossing the last four innings. In the night cap, senior Amber Smith went 3-for-3 with three runs batted in to help the Penguins to a 7-4 lead. Sophomore Lacy Bronson also ripped two hits, including a triple, and sophomore Tiffany Patteson went 2-for-5. The Purple Eagles plated four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, sparked by a Cheryl Julicher second three-run home run of the game to give Niagara an 8-7 victory. YSU host Ohio, Friday, April 30, at 4 p.m. |
| Penguins Comeback For 3-2 Victory Over Loyola |
| Monday, April 26 2004 |
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| Chicago, Ill. – The Youngstown State softball team (26-14, 7-3 Horizon League) erased a 2-0 deficit with a run in the top of the fourth and two more in the top of the fifth to earn a 3-2 victory over Loyola (18-26, 8-7 Horizon League) on Sunday afternoon at the Loyola Softball Park. Trailing 2-0 after three innings, the Penguins cut the Rambler lead in half in the top of the fourth inning. Sophomore Tiffany Patteson, who went 2-for-3 with two doubles, led off the frame with a double to right field and scored when Char Kudlock reached on an error. With two outs in the top of the fifth, Patteson ignited the Penguins' rally with a walk. Kudlock's infield single advanced Patteson to second and Lacey Reichert's single to center field scored Patteson. Kudlock came around to score when Loyola's center fielder misplaced the ball but Reichert was thrown out trying to advance to third base. YSU starter Kelly Murphy picked up her 13th win of the season, firing a complete-game four-hitter. In the first three innings, Murphy gave up two earned runs and three hits but buckled down to close out the game. The North Olmsted, Ohio, native retired 10 of the last 12 batters she faced and did not allow a runner passed first base. YSU visits Niagara, Wednesday, April 28 at 3 p.m. |
| Penguins Earn Split With Zips |
| Friday, April 23 2004 |
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| Akron, Ohio – The Youngstown State softball team (24-13) jumped out to a 4-0 lead and staved off a late-inning Akron rally to salvage a doubleheader split with a 4-3 victory in game two at Buchtel Field. The Penguins dropped the opener, 3-1. The Penguins posted a four-run second inning to get on the scoreboard first. Sophomore Tiffany Patteson, who went 3-for-3, two-out single plated senior Amber Smith and junior Erin Moore, who both walked, and Char Kudlock's two-run home run gave YSU its four-run cushion. Akron cut the Penguin lead in half with two runs off of YSU starter Tricia Hilbish in the bottom half of the second. Hilbish, who picked up her second win of the season, tossed five innings and struck out three. The Zips threatened in the bottom of the fifth with runners on second and third but Hilbish fanned Akron's final two batters. In the bottom of the sixth, Stephanie Conrad led off the frame with a double and pinch runner Rachel Kraus moved to third on Jaclyn Spirtos' single. YSU freshman Karlie Burnell relieved Hilbish and promptly forced a pop-out. Amy Garner's single down the right field line scored Kraus and advanced Paige Smith, who pinch ran for Spirtos, to third. Aaren McBride flew out and YSU center fielder Amber Smith gunned down Smith at the plate to preserve the Penguins advantage. In the opener, Lacey Reichert drilled a solo home run in the top of the first but Akron rallied for two runs in the bottom half of the frame and added another in the bottom of the fifth. YSU visits Loyola for a three-game series on April 24 and 25. |
| Berry, Hartman Homers Lead Penguins to Doubleheader Sweep |
| Wednesday, April 21 2004 |
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| Moon Township, Pa. -- Youngstown State seniors Amanda Berry and Jenn Hartman each blasted home runs to lead the YSU softball team (23-12) to a doubleheader sweep over Robert Morris (7-28-1), 4-3, and 5-1, on Tuesday afternoon at the North Athletic Complex. Berry put the Penguins on the board quickly with a two-out, two-run home run in the top of the first inning in game two to give YSU a 2-0 advantage. In her next at bat, Berry belted her sixth home run of the year, a solo shot, to extend the Penguin advantage to 3-0 in the top of the third. That was all the offense YSU starter Kelly Murphy needed as the right-hander tossed a three-hitter to pick up her 11th win of the season. Youngstown State added two more insurance runs in the top half of the fourth on Tiffany Patteson's two-run triple. With game one tied, 3-3, in the top of the sixth, Hartman belted a one-out solo home run to center field for the decision run. YSU scored two runs in the top of the third and another in the top of the fourth to take a 3-0 lead. Junior Erin Moore led off the third with a single and advanced to second on Hartman's sacrifice bunt. Patteson doubled to center field to plate Moore and later scored on a wild pitch. In the fourth frame, sophomore Lacy Bronson led off with a single and later scored on a Patteson single. Robert Morris tied the game in the bottom half of the inning when Kali Byers hit a three-run home run off YSU starter Ashley Lockmiller. Freshman Karlie Burnell, who gave up four hits, tossed four scoreless innings of relief to pick up her eighth win of the season. YSU visits Akron, Thursday, April 22, at 3 p.m. |
| Murphy Named Horizon League Pitcher of the Week |
| Tuesday, April 20 2004 |
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| Indianapolis, Ind. – For the second time this season, Youngstown State sophomore Kelly Murphy (North Olmsted, Ohio) has been named the Horizon League Pitcher of the Week, the League announced on Monday. Murphy was also the pitcher of the week on March 15. Murphy, who owns a record of 10-7 with a 0.99 earned-run-average, went 2-1 with a 0.39 earned run average last week. In 18 innings pitched, Murphy allowed just four hit, one earned run and struck out 19 batters while walking just four. The 2003 Horizon League Pitcher of the Year tossed two shutouts last week and fired her second career no-hitter in an 8-0 win over Wright State. |
| Penguins Sign Two More to Letters of Intent |
| Tuesday, April 20 2004 |
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| Youngstown, Ohio – Bethany Hafley (pronounced “HAFE-lee) of Canton, Ohio, and Kelli Sheibley (pronounced “SHIBE-lee) of Bucyrus, Ohio, have signed National Letters of Intent to continue their softball and academic careers at Youngstown State University, Head Softball Coach Christy Cameron announced on Monday. Hafley, an outfielder, was a four-year letterwinner at Canton Glen Oak High School and led her summer team, the Maddogs Softball Team, to the 18-and under American Softball Association Nationals in Broken Arrow, Okla., in 2002. “Bethany has a good arm and I like the way she swings the bat,” Cameron said. “She’s a hard worker and comes from a good summer program.” Sheibley, an infielder and pitcher from Colonel Crawford High School, was a first-team All-Ohio selection last season after batting .354 and striking out 182 batters in 130 innings pitched with a 0.27 earned-run-average. “Kelli is a strong kid and a good athlete,” Cameron said. “What I like best about her is her versatility and that she will be able to do different things for us. Hafley and Sheibley join McKenzie Bedra and Becky Hibner in the 2005 YSU recruiting class. |
| Murphy No-Hits Raiders in 8-0 Victory |
| Tuesday, April 20 2004 |
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| Canfield, Ohio -- Youngstown State sophomore Kelly Murphy (10-7) tossed her second career no-hitter and fanned eight batters to lead the Penguins softball team (21-12, 5-2 Horizon League) to an 8-0 victory over Wright State (12-28, 2-9 Horizon League) in five innings on Sunday at McCune Park. Murphy retired the first 12 batters she faced then hit WSU's Stephanie Salas to lead off the top of the fifth inning and spoiled the perfect game. Murphy struck out the side to end the Raider half of the frame. The Penguins jumped out to a 1-0 lead after two innings when Erin Moore, who went 3-for-3, plated Lacy Bronson with a two-out double to left field. Youngstown State exploded for six runs in the bottom of the third to extend its lead to 7-0. Tiffany Patteson led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on Char Kudlock's sacrifice bunt. Wright State pitcher Amanda Cody walked Lacey Reichert and Amanda Berry to load the bases. Patteson scored on a wild pitch and Kiisha Warfield drew a free pass to load the bases again. After a dropped foul ball, Bronson walked to score Reichert and Moore singled home Berry. Senior Jenn Hartman drilled a two-run single to left field and Patteson's safety through the right side plated Moore to cap the scoring in the third frame. In the bottom of the fifth, Patteson walked to lead off the inning and advanced to second when Kudlock reached on an error. Reichert walked to load the bases and Berry ended the game with a single to right-center field and drove in Patteson. YSU begins a nine-game road swing with a doubleheader at Robert Morris, Tuesday, April 20. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m |
| Murphy No-Hits Raiders in 8-0 Victory |
| Sunday, April 18 2004 |
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| Canfield, Ohio -- Youngstown State sophomore Kelly Murphy (10-7) tossed her second career no-hitter and fanned eight batters to lead the Penguins softball team (21-12, 5-2 Horizon League) to an 8-0 victory over Wright State (12-28, 2-9 Horizon League) in five innings on Sunday at McCune Park. Murphy retired the first 12 batters she faced then hit WSU's Stephanie Salas to lead off the top of the fifth inning and spoiled the perfect game. Murphy struck out the side to end the Raider half of the frame. The Penguins jumped out to a 1-0 lead after two innings when Erin Moore, who went 3-for-3, plated Lacy Bronson with a two-out double to left field. Youngstown State exploded for six runs in the bottom of the third to extend its lead to 7-0. Tiffany Patteson led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on Char Kudlock's sacrifice bunt. Wright State pitcher Amanda Cody walked Lacey Reichert and Amanda Berry to load the bases. Patteson scored on a wild pitch and Kiisha Warfield drew a free pass to load the bases again. After a dropped foul ball, Bronson walked to scored Reichert and Moore singled home Berry. Senior Jenn Hartman drilled a two-run single to left field and Patteson's safety through the right side plated Moore to cap the scoring in the third frame. In the bottom of the fifth, Patteson walked to lead off the inning and advanced to second when Kudlock reached on an error. Reichert walked to load the bases and Berry ended the game with a single to right-center field and drove in Patteson. YSU begins a nine-game road swing with a doubleheader at Robert Morris, Tuesday, April 20. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. |
| Penguins Sweep Wright State, 1-0, 5-1 |
| Saturday, April 17 2004 |
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| Canfield, Ohio -- Youngstown State sophomore Lacy Bronson scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Penguins (20-12, 4-2 Horizon League) a 1-0 victory over Wright State (12-27, 2-8 Horizon League) in game one of a doubleheader at McCune Park. The Penguins won game two, 5-1. Bronson led off the bottom of the seventh with a single to left field and moved to second on Amber Smith's sacrifice bunt. After Erin Moore reach on an error, Bronson scored when Amanda Cody's pitch to Jenn Hartman sailed over catcher Kristen Farley's head. Sophomore Kelly Murphy tossed a two-hitter for her sixth shutout of the season and struck out eight batters to pick up her ninth win of the season. In the night cap, Youngstown State used timely hitting and benefited from five Wright State errors to complete the doubleheader sweep. YSU jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after two innings. Senior Amanda Berry led off the from with her fourth home run of the season. Kiisha Warfield singled and moved to third on a Wright State error on Bronson's sacrifice bunt. Bronson also advanced to second on the play. Amber Smith singled home Warfield and Erin Moore's infield single loaded the bases. After a fly out, sophomore Tiffany Patteson plated Bronson on a single through the right side. Two innings later, YSU snuffed out a Wright State scoring threat. Amanda Rutherford led off the inning with a rare infield double and Stephanie Salas reached on a fielder's choice. Cody singled to center field but Smith fire a rocket to throw out Rutherford at the plate. Farley followed with a single to center field to load the bases but YSU pitcher Karlie Burnell forced WSU's Alison Davis to hit into an inning-ending double play. The Penguins posted two more unearned runs in the bottom half of the fourth sparked by two Raider errors. Burnell allowed 10 hits with six strikeouts and did not walk a batter to improve to 7-3 The Penguins host Wright State in a single game, Sunday, April 18, at McCune Park. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. |
| Murphy's Two-Hitter Not Enough in 2-1 Loss to Cleveland State |
| Thursday, April 15 2004 |
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| Cleveland, Ohio -- Youngstown State sophomore Kelly Murphy (8-7) tossed a two-hitter but the Penguins (18-12, 2-2 Horizon League) stranded seven runners on base and dropped a 2-1 decision to Horizon League foe Cleveland State (13-18, 6-3) on Wednesday afternoon at Viking Field. Murphy retired the first 14 Viking batters she faced before CSU's Shannon Graves reached on a Murphy fielding error. Graves then stole second and scored an unearned run on Grace Luginbuhl's double to right-center field to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead after five innings. The Penguins quickly tied the contest, 1-1, with an unearned run in the top of the sixth inning. Tiffany Patteson led off the frame with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball. Lacey Reichert singled and moved to second on an error which plated Patteson with the game-tying run. Senior Amanda Berry singled, moving Reichert to third but the Penguins were retired before scoring any more runs. Cleveland State's Michelle Nicholas doubled to lead off the bottom half of the sixth, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a ground out to shortstop to regain the lead for the Vikings, 2-1. Youngstown State threatened in the top of the seventh when Amber Smith led off the frame with a triple to center field and Jenn Hartman reached on an infield single, but the Penguins failed to push the tying run across the plate. The Penguins host Wright State in a doubleheader, Saturday, April 17, at McCune Park. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. |
| Patteson Named Horizon League Player of the Week |
| Tuesday, April 13 2004 |
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| Indianapolis, Ind. – For the second time this season, Youngstown State sophomore Tiffany Patteson has been named the Horizon League Softball Player of the Week, the League announced on Monday. Patteson was also named player of the week on March 15. Last week, Patteson hit .500 going 11-for-22 with two doubles, two home runs, seven runs scored and seven runs batted in. YSU went 4-3 last week. Patteson collected at least one hit in all seven games last week and recorded three multi-hit games. Patteson drilled a two-run home run against Kent State, went 2-for-2 in game two against Toledo, and 6-for-10 in the three-game series against Detroit. In game one, Patteson was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI. She went 1-for-3 in game two and 3-for-4 with two runs scored, a double, a home run and three RBI. Patteson also finished with a .864 slugging percentage, a .556 on-base percentage and did not commit an error in 31 chances at shortstop. YSU continues its Horizon League road trip with a single game at Cleveland State, Wednesday, April 14, at 7 p.m. |
| Penguins Split With Detroit |
| Sunday, April 11 2004 |
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| Detroit, Mich. -- Youngstown State freshman Karlie Burnell tossed a complete game, four-hitter to lead the YSU softball team (18-11, 2-1) to a 2-1 victory in game one of a Horizon League doubleheader at Buysse Park. The Penguins dropped game two, 8-6. Sophomore Lacey Bronson went 3-for-3 while junior Char Kudlock was 2-for-3. In the nightcap, Youngstown State banged out 11 hits, but squandered a 6-2 lead through four and one-half innings and surrendered a six-run fifth inning to the Titans and lost its first Horizon League game of the season, 8-6. The Penguins scored in a run in each of the first three innings and scored three times in the top of the fourth inning. In that frame, sophomore Tiffany Patteson, who went 3-for-4 with three runs batted in, drilled a three-run home run to give the Penguins a 6-1 lead. The Titans added a run in the bottom of the fourth to trim the YSU advantage to 6-2. In the bottom of the fifth, Andrea Sikora drilled a three-run home run after a Penguin error and walk to cut the deficit to 6-5. Kristen Martin and Anna Ollgaard singled and Lori Castel was hit by a pitch to load the bases and all scored on Kari Messina's three-run double to give Detroit an 8-6 lead. Murphy (8-6) struck out six and allowed just four earned runs. YSU continues its Horizon League road trip with a single game at Cleveland State, Wednesday, April 14, at 7 p.m. |
| Penguins Drop Detroit, 10-0, in Horizon League Opener |
| Sunday, April 11 2004 |
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| Detroit, Mich. -- Youngstown State senior Lacey Reichert went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run and five runs batted in while sophomore Kelly Murphy (8-5) tossed her second straight shutout to lead the Penguins softball team (17-10, 1-0 Horizon League) to its first Horizon League win of the season with a 10-0 victory over Detroit (9-18, 2-6 Horizon League). The Penguins exploded for five runs in the top half of the second inning to jump out to a commanding 5-0 lead. Junior Char Kudlock and Reichert ripped back-to-back two-run doubles to spark Youngstown State. Kudlock, who went 2-for-4, extended the Penguins lead to 6-0 with a run-scoring single in the top of the fourth inning before Youngstown State tallied four more markers in the top of the sixth frame. To lead off the inning, sophomore Lacy Bronson, freshman Megan Bricker and senior Jenn Hartman each singled to load the bases. After a dropped foul ball, sophomore Tiffany Patteson, who went 2-for-3, plated Bronson with a sacrifice fly to center field. Kudlock was retired after the infield-fly rule was enforced then Reichert belted her third round-tripper of the season. Murphy, who fired her fifth shutout of the season, fanned six Titans and allowed just six hits. Youngstown State and Detroit will conclude the three-game series with a doubleheader, Saturday, at 1 p.m. |
| Murphy Tosses One-Hitter in Split With Toledo |
| Thursday, April 8 2004 |
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| Toledo, Ohio -- Youngstown State sophomore Kelly Murphy tossed a one-hitter with five strikeouts and senior Amanda Berry went 2-for-4 to become YSU's all-time hits leader and guide the Penguins (16-10) past Toledo (10-19), 3-0, in game one of a softball doubleheader at Scott Park. The Penguins dropped the nightcap, 4-3, in 10 innings. The Penguins jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning after a Berry run-scoring double plated Char Kudlock, who walked. That was all the offense Murphy needed to pick up her seventh win of the season. The North Olmsted, Ohio, native retired the first seven batters she faced and never allowed a Toledo runner passed second base. In the top of the seventh, Reichert drilled a two-run home run, her second of the season, to cap the scoring. Sophomore Tiffany Patteson reached on an infield single and advanced to second on Kudlock's sacrifice bunt. In the nightcap, the Penguins failed to hold a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh and a 3-2 advantage in the bottom of the ninth and dropped a 4-3 decision in 10 innings. After trailing 1-0 after four innings, the Penguins plated two runs in the top of the fifth frame to take a 2-1 lead. With one out, back-to-back doubles by freshman Megan Bricker and senior Jenn Hartman knotted the contest, 1-1. Patteson walked and Kudlock singled to load the bases for Berry, who drove in Hartman with a single. The Penguins threatened to score more in the top of the seventh inning, but could not plate an insurance run after having a runner on third and one out. With one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, Toledo's Vicki Nelson singled to left field, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored to tie the game, 2-2, on Erica Singer's double to left field. YSU regained the lead, 3-2, after scoring an unearned run in the top half of the ninth but the Rockets answered with runs in the bottom of half of the ninth and 10th innings. YSU freshman Karlie Burnell (5-3) scattered eight hits in 9.1 innings pitched with five strikeouts but was the hard-luck loser. Youngstown State continues its road trip with a three-game Horizon League series against Detroit, April 9 and 10. First pitch on Friday is slated for 4:30 p.m. |
| Berry Ties School Hits Mark In Split With Kent State |
| Wednesday, April 7 2004 |
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| Canfield, Ohio -- Youngstown State senior Amanda Berry (Lorain, Ohio) went 4-for-7 and tied the school record for career hits with 176 after leading the Penguins to a doubleheader split with Kent State (11-13) at McCune Park on Tuesday afternoon. The Penguins (15-9) dropped the opener, 3-1, but rallied to take the nightcap, 6-1. In the nightcap, the Penguins jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning after Berry, who went 3-for-3, led off the frame with her second single of the game. After stealing second, Berry scored on Lacy Bronson's two-out single to center field. Youngstown State added two more in the bottom of the fifth on Lacey Reichert's two-run home run to push the Penguin advantage to 3-0. Kent State scored an unearned run in the top of the sixth off YSU starter Karlie Burnell, who tossed a complete-game, six-hitter to pick up her fifth victory of the season. YSU was not done scoring as the Penguins extended its lead to 6-1 in the bottom of the sixth. Bronson reached on an bunt single, advanced to second on a ground out and scored on Jenn Hartman's single to center field. Sophomore Tiffany Patteson capped the scoring with a two-run blasted to right-center field. In the opener, YSU's Kelly Murphy tossed eight solid innings, allowing just six hits and striking out nine, but took the hard-fought loss. The Penguins took the lead, 1-0, on Hartman's first career home run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Berry was 1-for-4 in game one. Kent State rallied with a run in the top half of the sixth and two unearned runs in the top of the eighth inning. YSU visits Toledo for a doubleheader on Thursday, April 8. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. |