| Penguins Shutout By Cardinals, 3-0 |
| Sunday, February 29 2004 |
| Courtesy of: |
| Lexington, Ky. -- Ball State (1-3) exacted some revenge on the Youngstown State softball team (1-3) by shutting out the Penguins, 3-0, on Sunday afternoon in the Consolation Game at the University of Kentucky Spring Invitational. The Cardinals scored two runs off YSU starter Ashley Lockmiller (0-1) on just two hits and tagged reliever Karlie Burnell for seven hits and added an insurance run. Youngstown State could only muster six hits off Ball State pitchers Amy Brownfield and Rachel Cleaveland, who combined for the shutout, and could not capitalize on three Ball State errors and left nine runners on base. YSU's Lacey Reichert went 2-for-3 while junior Char Kudlock was 2-for-4 with a double. After three scoreless innings, Ball State plated two runs in the fourth off of Lockmiller and added one in the fifth off of Burnell. The Penguins return to action in a doubleheader against Stetson, Saturday, March 7. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. in Deland, Fla. |
| Panthers Score Unearned Run To Topple Penguins, 2-1 |
| Sunday, February 29 2004 |
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| Lexington, Ky. -- Northern Iowa scored an unearned run in the top of the seventh inning to propel the Panthers (3-5) to a 2-1 victory over Youngstown State (1-2) at the University of Kentucky Spring Invitational on Sunday morning. YSU received another strong outing from sophomore hurler Kelly Murphy (1-1), who tossed a complete game, scattered just three hits, fanned seven and allowed just one earned run. After Northern Iowa jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, the Penguins battled back to tie the contest, 1-1, in the bottom of the sixth inning. With two outs, senior Amber Smith doubled to right field and scored on senior Amanda Berry's double to center field. |
| Penguins Drop 3-0 Decision Kentucky |
| Saturday, February 28 2004 |
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| Lexington, Ky. -- Youngstown State freshman pitcher Karlie Burnell scattered just five hits, struck out 11 and allowed just one earned run but the Penguins (1-1) dropped a 3-0 decision to Kentucky (8-3-1) on Saturday afternoon at the Kentucky Spring Invitational. Sophomore Tiffany Patteson recorded two of YSU's three base hits with a 2-for-2 performance while senior Lacey Reichert went 1-for-2. The game was scoreless after four innings when the Wildcats scored an unearned run in the top of the fifth and added two more tallies in the top of the sixth frame. YSU faces Northern Iowa, Sunday, Feb. 29, at noon. |
| Penguins Open 2004 Season |
| Thursday, February 26 2004 |
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| Youngstown – The Youngstown State softball team opens the 2004 campaign at the University of Kentucky Spring Invitational Feb. 28-29 in Lexington, Ky. The Penguins face Ball State Feb. 28 at 1:30 p.m. and the host Wildcats at 5:30 p.m. The Penguins play Northern Iowa on Sunday, Feb. 29, at noon. The Penguins and Ball State contest is the season opener for both schools while Northern Iowa owns a 1-4 record entering the tournament. Kentucky enters the tournament with a 7-3-1 record and is coming off a 2-2 tie against Texas at Arlington. Northern Iowa is currently 1-4 and is coming off a 1-0 loss to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and a 3-0 loss to Houston. Sibling Rivalry Not only is the Youngstown State-Ball State softball game the season opener for both squads, it marks the first time Patteson sisters - Tiffany and Cortney - will match up against each on an intercollegiate diamond. Tiffany was first-team all-Horizon League selection at shortstop last season for the Penguins while Cortney is slated to start at second base for the Cardinals. Penguins Start 2004 As Road Warriors Youngstown State has the daunting task of playing its first 15 games and 29 of its first 31 games on the road. Youngstown State does not play at home until March 17 when it hosts Pittsburgh at 2 p.m. Berry, Reichert Named 2004 Captains Seniors Amanda Berry and Lacey Reichert have been named team captains for the 2004 season. Berry is near the top of several YSU softball records and is the reigning Horizon League Player of the Year. Reichert is a four-year starter and one of the defensive leaders of the Penguins. Up Next The Penguins continue their trek with a doubleheader against Stetson, March 7 at 1 p.m. Youngstown State then plays in the annual Rebel Games in Orlando, Fla., Mar. 8-13. At the Rebel Games, YSU faces Creighton, Yale, Holy Cross, Gardner-Webb, Central Michigan, Penn, Quinnipiac, Niagara, Army and Wagner. Penguins Return Nine Starters Youngstown State has a solid core of starters returning from last season’s record-breaking squad, including 2003 Player of the Year Amanda Berry (1B), 2003 Pitcher of the Year Kelly Murphy (P), first-team All-Horizon League selection Tiffany Patteson (SS), sophomore Codi Bise (DP), junior Char Kudlock (2B), junior Ashley Lockmiller (P), junior Erin Moore (OF), senior Lacey Reichert (3B) and senior Amber Smith (OF). YSU Picked Second In Horizon League After its record-breaking season and a second-place finish in 2003, the Youngstown State softball team has been picked to finish second in the Horizon League according to a poll of the League’s head coaches. The Penguins, who finished with 42 points and garnered three first-place votes, trailed just preseason-favorite Illinois-Chicago in the voting with 46 points. Loyola (Chicago) placed a close third with 41 points with one first-place vote while Cleveland State was picked fourth with 29 points. Wright State, the 2003 Horizon League Tournament Champion, received 21 votes to place fifth while Detroit, Butler and UW-Green Bay round out the sixth through eighth slots with 19, 18 and 8 points, respectively. Last UK Spring Invite Washed Out Last season, Youngstown State was scheduled to open the season at the Kentucky Spring Invitational but the tournament was cancelled due to cold weather. Penguins Against the Field Youngstown State and Ball State will meet for the third time with the Cardinals owning a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series. The Cardinals defeated the Penguins, 9-1, during the 1999 season and 2-1 in 2000. This is the first meeting between Youngstown State and Kentucky and also the first time the Penguins and Panthers will meet on the softball diamond. Penguins Ink Two The Youngstown State softball program has signed McKenzie Bedra and Becky Hibner to National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and athletic careers at YSU for the 2005 season. Bedra, an infielder, hails from Bowling Green, Ohio and is a three-time all-conference selection and a three-year letterwinner. Bedra hit .422 with two home runs last season at Bowling Green High School and .396 with 15 homers during the summer. Hibner, who is a native of Salem, Ore., is a left-handed hitting and throwing first baseman, outfielder and pitcher. Last season, Hibner led South Salem High School to a conference championship and was named Honorable Mention All-State as a junior. A three-time letterwinner, Hibner is also a two-time first-team all-conference pick and was named Honorable Mention all-conference as a freshman. Best Season Ever In 2003, the Youngstown State softball team compiled the best season in school history. The Penguins set the school record for wins with 36 and have established seven other team single-season records. The Penguins have also set new marks in runs scored (220), hits (375), doubles (73), triples (19), home runs (33), runs batted in (188) and consecutive games won (9). Murphy Becomes YSU’s First 20-Game Winner Last season, Youngstown State sophomore Kelly Murphy smashed the YSU single-season record for most victories and became the first YSU pitcher to win 20 games in one season. Murphy, who won 22 games in 2003, picked up her 20th victory in a 6-1 decision over UIC. Murphy also set the school record for strikeouts with 179 in 185.2 innings pitched. Patteson Named To Canadian National Team At Pan American Games Youngstown State sophomore Tiffany Patteson was named to the Canadian National Softball Team and selected to represent her country at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Patteson, who was first selected as an alternate, received the call to the national team and joined the squad for opening ceremonies on August 1. Penguin Trio Played In College All-Star Game Senior Amanda Berry and sophomores Kelly Murphy and Tiffany Patteson were selected to play in the College All-Star Game at the National Pro Fastpitch Festival on July 25, 2003, at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio. Berry, Murphy Named To Great Lakes All-Region Second-Team Senior Amanda Berry and sophomore Kelly Murphy were named to the 2003 Great Lakes All-Region Second-Team. Berry and Murphy are the first YSU softball players to receive all-region recognition. YSU Sweeps 2003 Horizon League Postseason Awards The 2003 Penguin softball program’s turnaround really opened the eyes of their counterparts. The Penguins swept the Horizon League postseason awards when Head Coach Christy Cameron was named Coach of the Year; senior Amanda Berry was tabbed Player of the Year; sophomore Kelly Murphy was named Pitcher of the Year; and former Penguin Liz Holt was named Newcomer of the Year. Sophomore Tiffany Patteson also garnered first-team All-Horizon League honors. Penguins Triple Home Run Record In 2003, the Youngstown State softball team more than tripled the school record for most home runs in a season. The 2003 Penguins cranked 33 round trippers last season compared to the old school record of 10 set in 1998. Patteson Ties Career Triples Mark In One Year YSU sophomore Tiffany Patteson had a break-out season last year. The Guelph, Ontario native set the single-season and career triples mark in just her first season of intercollegiate competition. Currently, Patteson is tied with senior Amanda Berry as YSU’s all-time triples leader with nine three-base hits. Home Sweet Home Youngstown State thoroughly enjoyed playing at its home field at McCune Park last season. The Penguins were an impressive 15-3-1 at McCune Park for a winning percentage of .816. Berry Led Horizon In Four Categories Youngstown State senior Amanda Berry, the 2003 Horizon League Player of the Year, topped the circuit in four offensive categories and was in the top five in eight offensive statistical categories. Berry led the League in hits (55), doubles (14), runs batted in (39) and total bases (98). She also ranked second in triples (4) and slugging percentage (.566), tied for second in home runs (7) and third in runs scored (31). Patteson Ranked Fourth Nationally Sophomore Tiffany Patteson not only set the career triples record in one season at YSU with nine, her 0.17 triples per game ranked fourth in the nation. Penguins In the Clutch Last season, Youngstown State took full advantage of its scoring opportunities. The Penguins hit .490 with runners on third and less than two out. Senior Lacey Reichert paced YSU in that situation with a .636 batting average while classmate Amanda Berry hit .615 and sophomore Tiffany Patteson hit .545. Penguin Slug Fest The 2003 season was an absolute slug-fest for the Penguins. Of YSU’s 375 hits, 125 or 33 percent went for extra-bases. Youngstown State clobbered 33 home runs, 19 triples and 73 doubles for a team slugging percentage of .414. Senior Amanda Berry ranked second in the Horizon League with her slugging percentage of .566 while sophomore Tiffany Patteson ranked third with a .548 slugging percentage. |
| Lady Pens Predicted To Finish Second In Horizon League Poll |
| Monday, February 16 2004 |
| Courtesy of: |
| Indianapolis, Ind. – After its record-breaking season and a second-place finish in 2003, the Youngstown State softball team has been picked to finish second in the Horizon League according to a poll of the League’s head coaches, the League announced on Monday. The Penguins, who finished with 42 points and garnered three first-place votes, trailed just preseason-favorite Illinois-Chicago in the voting with 46 points. Loyola (Chicago) placed a close third with 41 points with one first-place vote while Cleveland State was picked fourth with 29 points. Wright State, the 2003 Horizon League Tournament Champion, received 21 votes to place fifth while Detroit, Butler and UW-Green Bay round out the sixth through eighth slots with 19, 18 and 8 points, respectively. Youngstown State opens the 2004 season against Eastern Kentucky at the University of Kentucky Softball Tournament on Feb. 28 at 1:30 p.m. Later that day, the Penguins will also face Kentucky at 5:30 p.m. 2004 Horizon League Poll School (First-Place Votes) Points 1. Illinois-Chicago (4) 46 2. Youngstown State (3) 42 3. Loyola (Chicago) (1) 41 4. Cleveland State 29 5. Wright State 21 6. Detroit 19 7. Butler 18 8. UW-Green Bay 8 |