Valparaiso takes twinbill from YSU softball team

Staff report

VALPARAISO, IND.

The Youngstown State softball team dropped a pair of games to Valparaiso, 3-0, and 6-5 in 14 innings on Saturday afternoon in Horizon League play.

Junior Samantha Snodgrass had five hits on the day, including a three-run home run in the second game.

The Penguins fall to 15-25 overall and 8-12 in the Horizon League while Valparaiso improves to 29-23 overall and 11-8 in the league.

Youngstown State needs a win or a loss by Green Bay to qualify for the Horizon League Tournament.

In game two, the Penguins led the Crusaders 4-0 after two innings on an RBI-single by senior Sarah Gabel in the first and a three-run home run by Snodgrass in the second.

Valparaiso tied the game after two two-run infield singles in the bottom of the third and fourth innings.

The Penguins had a chance to break open the game, but left the bases loaded stranded in the top of the sixth inning.

After seven scoreless innings, freshman Miranda Castiglione belted a solo home run to center field to put the Penguins up 5-4 in the top of the 12th.

Valpo’s Kaitlyn Ranieri tied the game with a single in the bottom of the 12th and then posted the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 14th.

The Penguins left 13 runners on base in the nightcap.

In the opener, the Penguins tallied just four hits and Snodgrass posted two of the four.

The Penguins and Crusaders close out the series at 1 p.m. today.