CALE FORCE WINS

By Pete Mollica

Cheryl Cale threw all nine innings, allowing just five hits, in Youngstown State softball team’s 1-0 shutout over Loyola

OUNGSTOWN STATE softball coach Brian Campbell is a firm believer that hard work will always pay off in the long run.

Sunday morning his young softball team, which has been battling hard for the past five games, finally saw some of their efforts fulfilled when the posted a 1-0, nine-inning Horizon League victory over Loyola at McCune Park in Canfield.

Junior pitcher Cheryl Cale threw all nine innings and scattered just five hits and walked only one batter in recording her second victory of the season.

The game’s only run came in the bottom of the ninth when sophomore Kristina Rendle lofted a one-out sacrifice fly to left field that scored freshman Kristen Philen with the winning tally.

The Penguins (3-16, 1-2 Horizon) had dropped two close contests to the Ramblers on Saturday, the second 6-5 in eight innings. Sunday’s game was the fourth extra inning contest in the last five games for the Penguins.

“I’m so proud of these young ladies today,” said Campbell. “They just battled so hard for so long and to finally see their efforts pay off is a big confidence builder for them right now.”

“Cheryl just pitched a brilliant game today,” he added. “When she’s hitting her spots she is a tough pitcher to beat and finally we came up with some clutch hits to back her up.”

Cale (2-7), who suffered a 4-1 loss in Saturday’s first game to the Ramblers, has now thrown 14 consecutive scoreless innings. She blanked the Ramblers over the final five on Saturday and all nine Sunday.

“I guess I could have gone on as long as they needed me today,” Cale said. “I was just out there trying to get them to hit the ball to my defense and the defense did an outstanding job behind me today.”

“This was a big win against a team that was picked No. 2 in the league this season,” Cale added.

Loyola (13-8, 2-1) also got some outstanding pitching from senior Krista Crosson, who also pitched all nine innings and worked her way out of a couple of earlier jams. She allowed eight hits and walked three and dropped to 7-3 on the season.

In the bottom of the ninth Philen led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second by senior Allyse Ledford. Freshman catcher Amanda Palmore then blooped a single over shortstop that enabled Ledford to reach third base and Palmore took second on the throw to third.

Rendle then lofted a fly ball down the left field line, which was actually caught in foul territory by left fielder Stephanie Cihlar and Philen tagged up and scored easily with the game winner.

“I just went up there trying to get the bat on the ball somewhere, preferably on the right side,” said Rendle, a left-handed hitter. “But she was throwing everything in an out all day and I just went with the pitch.

Cale was in control throughout the game. She was only in trouble once when the Ramblers had runners on second and third, but with two outs and she retire the next hitter. Other than that Loyola had only two other runners reach second base against her.

The Penguins never threatened against Crosson until the fifth inning when they had runners on first and third with one out after back-to-back singles by Palmore and Rendle. But Rendle was caught stealing second Crosson got Autumn Grove to pop out to end the inning.

In the eighth Haley Thomas led off with a single, but Grove popped out trying to but her to second. Kim Klonowski then singled to center, but Crosson struckout the next two batters to end the inning.

The Penguins will remain at home on Wednesday afternoon when they host Morehead State in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. at McCune.

Mollica@vindy.com