YSU’s Chase blanks Akron

By Joe Scalzo

Sophomore Danielle Chase pitched a two-hit, 8-0 win in the opener of a twinbill.

AKRON — They weren’t that bad, she thought. Really. Sure, that 1-10 record didn’t look so good, but YSU sophomore Danielle Chase preferred to think of the Penguins as slow starters (the glass half-full theory) rather than, say, a struggling team (the glass half-empty theory).

“I think the reason we started like that is because it took those games to acclimate ourselves, to figure out how we’re gonna play, to figure ourselves out, to find out who we were,” said Chase. “Now we’re comfortable with ourselves and we’re on a little bit of a roll here.”

OK. That might be stretching it. But when Chase walked off the mound for the final time Wednesday afternoon, she could feel good knowing she’d just pitched a two-hitter, YSU had clubbed a decent Akron team 8-0 in five innings and the Penguins had won two of three.

The fact that YSU twice lost four-run leads in the second game — eventually losing 8-7 — didn’t alter this fact: For the first time this season, there was reason to be hopeful.

“What made me feel really good about the first game was that we had been talking about our pitchers working ahead a lot, minimizing walks and getting pretty darn consistent defense behind them,” said YSU coach Christy Cameron. “We really did that the first game.

“All the hits and runs were an added bonus.”

Ah, yes. The pitching. Through the first 11 games, it was — how to put this delicately? — not too good.

“You’re right,” said Chase, smiling. “Today, it was easy to throw and hit spots. I came out with a 2-0 lead before I even came on the field. That made it a little easier and the defense made plays.

“They kept me in the game.”

YSU entered the game with a 5.25 team ERA, but, again, there was reason for hope. Chase (2-3) picked up her first win of the season Sunday — against Michigan State, no less — and looked strong Wednesday, striking out five without a walk.

“Danielle threw a very, very good game,” said Cameron. “She worked ahead the majority of the time and the defense played really well behind her.”

Although Chase has had more success since coming back to Ohio, the Pennsylvania native has only had warm thoughts about her pitching.

“I’m freezing,” she said. “It was kind of depressing to go from California to Ohio.

“It takes longer to get loose, but other than that, we’re used to it.”

Senior McKenzie Bedra went 3-for-3 in the first game, crushing her third homer of the season — and 26th of her career — over the left-field fence in the fourth. Senior Bethany Hafley added two doubles and three RBIs for the Penguins (2-11).

“I felt confident and I felt relaxed,” Hafley said. “The whole team did very well. We’re just keeping strong. Those games in California [to open the season] gave us a lot of experience, even though we had seven losses. We played good teams and that got us ready for Akron.

“I think we’ve done a good job preparing ourselves for the conference.”

YSU travels to Loyola for three games this weekend to open Horizon League play.

“That’ll be a big weekend for us,” said Cameron. “Our goal is to take two of three from them. We’re very capable of doing that, as long as our pitching and defense don’t fly south.”

Becky Hibner (two hits, two RBIs, one run) and Kristin Bair (two hits, one RBI, one run) led YSU in the second game, while pitcher Erin Schindler started and went the distance, giving up eight runs (all earned) on 14 hits and four walks.

Cali Stratton had three hits and three RBIs in the second game for the Zips (10-16), while Lisa McLean tripled with two outs in the seventh to drive in Jennifer Stottlemyer for the game-winner.

scalzo@vindy.com