Patteson ends career on high note

The senior shortstop had three hits in the 8-0 loss to Kent State.
By COREY ROEPKEN
SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Tiffany Patteson tried to fight back the tears.
Three singles in the season's final game -- an 8-0 loss to Kent State on Saturday -- did not feel like much consolation at that point.
That's because there are no more softball games for her to play.
"Obviously, this isn't the way you want to go out, but getting here has been unbelievable," the Youngstown State senior shortstop said.
"Right now, my heart feels like it's ripped out because you spend 15 years of your life playing softball and it's all you know. It's gone now."
Patteson's batting average jumped seven points to .361 after Saturday's 3-for-3 performance at the NCAA Regional hosted by Michigan. She finished her career with a cumulative batting average of .348 -- good for second place on Youngstown State's all-time list.
She is the Penguins' career leader in hits, doubles, triples and runs scored.
Patteston, this year's Youngstown State Female Athlete of the Year, was part of the winningest team in Youngstown State history when she helped the penguins to a 36-17-1 record as a freshman. This season, she delivered the program's first Horizon League Tournament title with a walk-off home run against Illinois-Chicago.
With the Penguins down to their last out on Saturday, the lefty reached for a low outside pitch and poked it between the third baseman and the shortstop to end her career with a hit.
"I would have rather went 0-for-3 with a team win. It's just a bonus when you get hits," she said.
"You can't hang your head after this. [At the start of my freshman season] I had no idea it would end like this. Thank God it did."