Dowd, Gibson Lead Softball to Split at Charlotte First Pitch Classic

by YSU

Monday, Feb 15, 2016 8:19 am

Charlotte, N.C. -- Junior Alexandria Gibson went 3-for-4 with a double and a triple, and junior Sarah Dowd hit her third-career grand slam to lead the Youngstown State softball team to a 9-8 win over UMass on Sunday afternoon. The Penguins dropped a 7-1 decision to Charlotte later in the day.

The Penguins, now 2-1, scored five in the second and another in the fifth to jump out to a 6-2 lead after five. UMass scored four in the top of the sixth to tie the game at 6-6, but the Penguins scored three unearned runs to regain a 9-6 six lead.

UMass added two runs in the top of the seventh before freshman Paige Geanangel closed out the game to pick up her first career save.

In the second inning, Gibson tripled to right field with one out and scored on Katie Smallcomb's single through the right side. After Kelly Thompson-Cappadocio reached on an error and Jordan Macey walked, Dowd blasted her second home run of the season, a grand slam, to give the Penguins a 5-0 lead.

UMass cut the lead to 5-2, but a single by Thompson-Cappadocio plated Gibson, who doubled, to push the Penguins' lead to 6-2.

In the bottom of the sixth with the game tied at 6-6, Brittney Moffatt, Miranda Castiglione and Cali Mikovich each scored unearned runs to put the Penguins up, 9-6.

Against Charlotte, Castiglione went 3-for-4 and Mikovich went 2-for-3 with a double in the loss.

The Penguins will be back in action against Lehigh, Friday, Feb. 26, at the UNC-Greensboro Tournament in Greensboro, N.C.