Wright State finishes sweep of Penguins

By Greg Gulas

“When you have to play catch up against the better teams on your schedule, then it can take a toll on you.”

Christy Cameron

Penguins coach

Justine Shilt drove in seven runs to pace Wright State past YSU, 13-3, to complete a weekend sweep.

CANFIELD – During her high school career, Justine Shilt was a bunt and slap type hitter who was never permitted to hit away, let alone swing for the fence.

Recruited to Wright State University from Division II state champion Greenville High School, Raiders coach Mike Larabee wanted his prized freshman recruit to become a well-rounded athlete, setting out to mold her into the triple-threat player that he envisioned her becoming.

Sunday Shilt proved that hard work really does pay off as she homered twice, scored twice and drove in seven runs to pace the Raiders to a five-inning, 13-3 victory over Youngstown State and a weekend sweep of the Penguins in Horizon League action at McCune Park.

“I was strictly a bunter and slapper at the plate in high school, so when coach Larabee told me that he wanted me to now swing away I fell in love with the idea. It has taken plenty of hard work since the beginning of fall practice, but all of the effort has really paid off,” Shilt said.

“To sweep YSU this weekend was big. We just need to keep playing like we are and keep improving because the league tournament is right around the corner,” she added.

Starting 25 minutes late due to the inclement weather and dodging raindrops a good portion of the game, the Raiders raced to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on a two-run homer by Mollie Bauer.

It was one of three Raider round-trippers in the game.

The Penguins (6-22, 2-9) tied the game in the bottom half of the inning on RBIs by Rochelle Vanyi and Kristin Bair, but that would be the closest they would get the rest of the way.

Shilt’s first homer, a three-run poke over the right-center field fence in the third inning, staked the Raiders (20-17, 8-2) to a 5-2 lead, only to have the Penguins add a run in their half of the inning when McKenzie Bedra, who doubled to lead off the inning, scored on a wild pitch.

Wright State added five runs in the fourth inning, fueled by Shilt’s grand slam, adding three more tallies in the fifth frame.

“We’re just hoping for consistency with the conference tournament approaching,” said Larabee. “I felt coming into today’s game that getting an early lead would be the key — and it was. Give YSU credit, however, because they never quit. They kept coming at us no matter what the score.”

Penguins coach Christy Cameron, while pleased with her team’s effort, pointed to Wright State’s five-run rally with two outs in the fourth as the changing moment.

“When you have to play catch up against the better teams on your schedule, then it can take a toll on you. We got down early and battled back, but allowing five runs in the fourth after getting the first two outs of the inning proved costly. You can’t expect get away with that against a powerful offensive attack like Wright State’s,” Cameron said.

YSU returns to action Tuesday when it plays host to Horizon League rival Cleveland State in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. at McCune Park.