Wright State's 11-3 win snaps long losing skid

The Penguins couldn't extend their four-game winning streak.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CANFIELD -- The four-game winning streak for Youngstown State's softball team came to an abrupt halt Sunday at McCune Park.
The Penguins, who battled with Wright State through five innings, allowed eight runs in the final two innings of an 11-3 loss in a Horizon League contest.
The Penguins (5-9, 2-1 Horizon) took the series from the Raiders which made coach Christy Cameron a little happier.
"Our goal is to win every series in the conference and we accomplished that this weekend," Cameron said. "We also gave ourselves a chance to sweep the series, but that didn't happen."
Wright State, which had lost 22 straight games this season and 29 consecutive regular season games over the past two years, won for the first time .
Oddly enough, the last time the Raiders won a regular season game was in April 2005 when they defeated the Penguins, 6-4, in Dayton.
Three unearned runs
YSU starting pitcher Tricia Hilbish pitched five solid innings. She allowed three runs in the third inning, but all three were unearned.
Freshman Tasha Hess and junior Karlie Burnell didn't have the same success in relief.
The Penguins battled back to tie the score with a three-run rally in the bottom of the third on consecutive singles by Becky Hibner, Kristen McDonnell and Jamie Fornal after a couple of hit batsmen by Wright State starter Jessie Granger.
Hilbish started the sixth for YSU and was tagged for two singles and a two-run double by Bridget Henry. Hess came on and allowed two straight singles and a three-run home run by Amanda Cody for a 9-3 Wright State lead.
The Raiders added two more runs in the seventh on a double by Kristen Farley, a YSU error and a sacrifice fly.
"I think we kind of relaxed a little bit out there today," Cameron said. "You can't relax or get a little overconfident especially in conference play where every pitch can make a difference."
Solid start
Cameron said that she felt Hilbish gave the team five good innings.
"That's what we've been getting out of her this year and if she continues to work hard and get stronger she'll give us a full game sooner or later," Cameron added.
"We did what we set out to accomplish winning two of three and now we just have to continue to do that the rest of the way."
The Penguins were outhit 13-7 by the Raiders, with Cody going 3-for-3 with the home run. She also was the winning pitcher, coming in relief of Granger in the third inning. Cody shut down the Penguins the rest of the way, allowing just three hits.
Hibner and McDonnell led the Penguins at the plate with two hits each. One of McDonnell's hits was a double, her third of the season.
The Penguins will be on the road Tuesday for a 2 p.m. doubleheader at Robert Morris and then will return home Wednesday for a doubleheader at 2 p.m. against Canisius at McCune Park.
mollica@vindy.com