A title on the Horizon?

By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CANFIELD -- A gutty pitching performance by junior Karlie Burnell put the Youngstown State softball team in the championship game of the Horizon League tournament.
Burnell tossed 14 innings Friday, a 6-4 victory over Wright State in the morning and a 3-2 upset of top-seeded Illinois-Chicago in the winner's bracket final Friday evening at McCune Park.
The Penguins are scheduled to play in the championship game at noon today, but their opponent won't be decided until the morning. Cleveland State was scheduled to meet Loyola in a late game Friday and the winner was to take on UIC at 9 a.m. today to determine the Penguins' opponent.
This is the first time YSU has played for a league championship. Their best previous effort in the Horizon League was in 2003 when they won two games.
Playing hard
"They just wouldn't quit; they're amazing," said YSU coach Christy Cameron. "Karlie's performance was unbelievable out there. She just gutted it out and got it done."
Burnell was moved to tears.
"I'm very emotional and I've been crying ever since the final out," she said. "It was just a tremendous win and my defense has just played outstanding this whole tournament. They made the difference."
Burnell has also been the beneficiary of offensive support, including two more home runs by sophomore McKenzie Bedra in the opening game Friday.
Bedra broke the tournament record with four home runs and tied the record for most RBIs with eight, including one on a sacrifice fly in the win over UIC.
First game
The Penguins (21-25) took the lead in the first inning of the nightcap as Becky Hibner walked, went to third on freshman Kristen McDonnell's double to left and scored on Bedra's sacrifice fly to center.
After UIC tied the score in the bottom of the inning on a walk and two singles, the Penguins came right back in the second.
Allyse Ledford led off with an infield single and was sacrificed to second by Lacy Bronson. Beth Hafley reached on an error and senior Tiffany Patteson drove home Ledford with an infield single. Hafley scored on a wild pitch by UIC starter Brittany McIntyre.
From that point on it was Burnell and UIC reliever Kelly Cross up in a pitchers duel. Cross struck out nine batters over the final five innings.
Burnell had to pitch out of jams in four innings, giving up a run in the seventh before getting the final out.
"I went out there that last inning and said all I need is three outs and we're in the championship," Burnell said. "I didn't care if it took three pitches or 20 pitches, just get the three outs."
Does she have another game in her today?
"I've at least one and probably could throw a dozen if I need to. Hopefully it will be only one more," she said.
Second game
Wright State scored twice in the second inning as Danielle Dean drove in both runs with a double. The Penguins came right back to score four times in the bottom of the second to take the lead for good.
YSU sent 10 batters to the plate and despite only had two hits in the inning, a Wright State error and four walks aided the rally.
Patteson had a two-run single, while Ledford had the other hit. Wright State's starting pitcher, Amanda Cody, walked in one run and she also made an error which led to the fourth run.
After the Raiders tied the score in the fourth on an RBI single by Kristen Farley, the Penguins regained the lead with Bedra's first home run.
Bedra hit another home run in the fifth inning over the left field fence, the second consecutive game she hit back-to-back homers.
"I'm getting good pitches and I'm making good contact, but other than that I don't know what the reason is for my hitting," Bedra said.
"We're just playing so well right now, everybody is hitting and our confidence level is way up there."
Burnell (14-8) allowed eight hits, but was tough when she needed to be.
"With the defense playing solid behind me, I have so much confidence out there right now," Burnell said.
Bedra and Patteson had four of the five YSU hits in the contest.
mollica@vindy.com