Track team historic in Tennessee

Track team historic in Tennessee

Knoxville, Tenn.

The Youngstown State track and field team made program history by claiming the most top-10 finishes against national competition at Saturday’s Sea Ray Relays.

Eight YSU athletes in nine events finished 10th or better.

“We have had one or two top-10 finishes in the past, but nothing like this,” YSU coach Brian Gorby said. “We showed that we belong on the national stage at the biggest meet in the nation.”

Junior Alisha Anthony had two top-five finishes, including a school record distance of 6.02m (19-9) in the long jump. Anthony finished third in the event and added a fourth-place finish in the triple jump with a leap of 12.10m (39-8 1/2).

Freshman Samantha Hamilton also finished in the top-10 in multiple events, finishing seventh in the 1,500m and 3,000m steeplechase. Her 1,500m time of 4:44.94 ranks second in YSU history, while her steeplechase time of 11:40.88 ranks fourth in school history.

Fellow freshman Katherine Digby also competed in the steeplechase and finished eighth. Sophomore Kiplingat Tisia competed in the same event on the men’s side and finished second with a time of 9:17.05.

Also in distance events, senior Lauren Blase finished second in the 3,000m with a personal-best time of 10:02.80. Junior Kayla Witmer ran a time of 38:23.09 to take ninth in the 10,000m.

In field events, the men were led by senior Aaron Merrill and junior Bryin Ehrhardt. Merrill finished third in the shot put with a throw of 17.57m (57-7 3/4).

Ehrhardt cleared a personal-best height of 2.05m (6-8 3/4) in the high jump to finish fourth.

Aquadro pitches well in 8-1 triumph

Niles

Youngstown State freshman Blake Aquadro allowed one run in eight innings, and the Penguins finally got to Valpraiso’s starting pitching in an 8-1 victory over the Crusaders on Sunday at Eastwood Field.

YSU, which was held to four runs combined in Saturday’s doubleheader, matched that with four runs in the fourth inning off starter Tyler Deetjen.

That was all the support Aquadro needed as he earned his first collegiate win. The left-hander allowed four hits, worked around six walks and struck out five, keeping the Crusaders off balance all afternoon.

Armani Johnson went 2-for-4, scored twice and had two RBIs to lead the Penguins offensively.

“This was a must-win game for us, and Blake stepped up and delivered for us,” YSU head coach Rich Pasquale said. The Penguins improved to 5-4 in league play and 14-14 overall.

Valparaiso, ending its first conference series of the season, dropped to 11-18 and 2-1.

Both starters allowed only one hit through the first three innings, but the Penguins broke through for four runs on four hits in the fourth.

Tom Clayton hit a one-out single up the middle, and he advanced to second when Damon McCormick threw wildly on Anthony Porter’s fielder’s choice.

Zac McFarland’s infield single loaded the bases, and Johnson hit a two-run double to left to give the Penguins a 2-0 lead.

Derek Carr followed with an RBI single, and Johnson scored on Neil Schroth’s ground out to shortstop.

YSU blew the game open in the sixth when nine Penguins went to the plate to score three two-out runs.

Grove, Ingalls homer in 9-7 win

Chicago

Home runs by senior Autumn Grove and sophomore Jordan Ingalls sparked the Youngstown State softball team to a 9-7 win at Loyola.

The Penguins (9-22 overall, 2-4 Horizon League) scored six times in the third inning.

The Penguins pounded out 12 hits, including two each from junior Kristina Rendle, freshman Vicky Rumph and sophomore Amanda Palmore.