Outstanding in standings: YSU remains atop Horizon

The Penguins beat Butler for their eighth win in the last 10 outings.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
CANFIELD -- Jamie Fornal's three-run homer, three hits and two runs scored by Allyse Ledford and solid pitching performances by Tricia Hilbish and Karlie Burnell lifted Youngstown State to a 6-4 victory over Butler in a Horizon League softball game Sunday at McCune Park.
"It's been a team effort for us all season long and today was no different. Each game there seems to be a new hero; somebody ready to pick us up," coach Christy Cameron said.
"This team is unique in that they don't just focus on every game. They focus on every pitch, every at bat and then look to make the opposition pay for any costly mistakes.
"Fornal helped get us the early lead and both Hilbish and Burnell were excellent on the mound. All we ask of our pitchers is to keep us in the game and give us a chance to win. They definitely did that this weekend."
The win gave the Penguins (9-10, 5-1 Horizon League) a sweep of their three-game series with the Bulldogs and they won for the eighth time in their last 10 outings. YSU is in first place in the Horizon League, just ahead of Illinois-Chicago (6-2) and Cleveland State (4-2), which plays host to the Penguins Wednesday.
Early lead
It didn't take YSU very long to get on the board, scoring four times in the bottom of the first inning.
With one out, Becky Hibner reached on an error and after Kristen McDonnell singled to advance her to second, Fornal unloaded her second home run of the season to stake the Penguins to a 3-0 advantage.
"I hit a low, inside pitch; the type of pitch I always look for," Fornal said. "I felt like I had a good stroke and really felt like it had a chance to get out once it got some lift."
Ledford then doubled and scored on Megan Bricker's single.
The Penguins increased their lead to 5-0 in the third inning on Ledford's single that scored McDonnel.
When Ledford registered her third hit of the game with two outs in the fifth, it led to the Penguins' sixth run, Ledford scoring on Bricker's double.
"It felt good to be able to contribute to our win today. This team has a special chemistry, a quiet confidence so to speak," Ledford said.
Keeping it close
After allowing just four runners during the first five innings, Hilbish yielded a three-run blast to the Bulldogs' Jenny Jacobs as Butler cut the Penguin lead in half, 6-3.
Hilbish was replaced by Burnell, the winning pitcher in Saturday's nightcap, who retired three of the four batters she faced to end the inning without any further damage.
After Alex Boros' solo homer with one out cut the Penguins' lead to 6-4 in the top of the seventh, Burnell loaded the bases on back-to-back singles and a walk, but struck out pitcher Nikki Naffziger and got right-fielder Macy McMullen to ground out to end the game.
The Bulldogs (11-18-1, 1-7 HL) lost for the ninth straight time and are 3-14-1 in their last 18 outings.
Hilbish improved to 5-3 and Burnell picked up her team-leading third save.
The Penguins travel to Robert Morris today at 2 p.m. for a doubleheader.