SOFTBALL Penguins shake off rust

YSU beat Kent State in the nightcap, 6-1, after losing the opener, 3-1.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CANFIELD -- It took the Youngstown State softball team one game to shake off a two-and-a-half week layoff, but by the second game Tuesday afternoon the Penguins were back to their winning ways.
YSU dropped an eight-inning 3-1 decision to Kent State University in the home opener at McCune Park, but bounced back to take the nightcap 6-1.
The Penguins (15-9), playing their first game since March 21, had 12 straight games postponed by bad weather.
"These last couple of weeks have been tough," said YSU coach Christy Cameron. "We've been practicing in the gym, but it's never the same. We needed to play.
"In the first game against a good team like Kent, we made some mistakes, but it was good to see us come back strong in the second game."
Berry ties record
Senior Amanda Berry, the left-hand hitting first baseman from Lorain, had four hits in the twinbill, tying her with Tami Sinn (1994-97) for the YSU career lead in hits with 176.
Berry, who was 3-for-3 with a run scored in the second game, is already the Penguins career leader in doubles (41) and triples (13), and is only five short of the career home run record of 18.
"I just go out and play hard every day," said Berry. "Records are nice, but wins are much more important to me."
In the opening game, senior Kelly Murphy, last year's Horizon League's Pitcher of the Year, started the game with five shutout innings as YSU took a 1-0 lead on senior Jenn Hartman's first career home run.
Murphy, who pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the third inning, then gave up two hits in the sixth, including an RBI double to Carrie Eneix that tied the score.
Extra innings
The game went to extra innings and then used the International tie-breaking rule, where each team starts the inning with a runner on second base.
YSU, which went through the first seven innings without an error, made two errors in the eighth inning, and Murphy allowed two more hits as the Golden Flashes scored twice to take a 3-1 lead.
Murphy (6-5) allowed six hits while striking out nine. Kate Leary picked up the win for Kent (11-13), allowing just four hits and striking out 14 batters.
In the second game, the Penguins' bats came alive. After struggling through the first three innings, YSU scored a run in the fourth on sophomore Lacy Bronson's RBI single with two outs.
More runs
The Penguins added two more runs in the fifth as junior Char Kudlock singled with two outs, and scored on senior Lacey Reichert's two-run homer to right field.
The Penguins wrapped up the win in the sixth with a three-run rally, highlighted by two-run home run by sophomore Tiffany Patteson.
Freshman pitcher Karlie Burnell (5-2) limited the Flashes to six hits and one run.
The Penguins are scheduled to play a doubleheader Thursday at Toledo, and then hope to open Horizon League play at Detroit on Saturday and Sunday.
YSU's next scheduled home game is April 17 when it plays host to Horizon League-opponent Wright State in a 1 p.m. doubleheader at McCune Park.