YSU baseball falls, softball earns sweep

Staff report

Niles

The Youngstown State baseball team gave 10 of its pitchers some work against Akron on Wednesday afternoon at Eastwood Field. Half finished the contest with scoreless performances, while five others surrendered 11 runs in an 11-5 loss.

YSU’s first three hurlers, Corey Vukovic, Cody Dearth and Alex Frey, struck out three and allowed just one hit in the first three innings of the contest.

The early offense for the Penguins (15-15) was provided by outfielder Tom Clayton, who belted his second home run of the season off of Akron starter Zach Yike in the second inning. After falling behind 1-0, the Zips scored 11 of the game’s next 12 runs.

Clayton’s homer gave the Penguins a lead until the fourth inning. Jimmy Kinnick came on in relief for the Penguins, and hit Jake Plata with a pitch before Kyle Hallett doubled just inside the right field line. After Brian Kordal flied out to short left field, Brandon White singled to center scoring Plata and Hallett.

Kinnick retired Sam Trecaso before walking the next two hitters. Anthony Munoz came on in relief and was greeted by a two-run Kevin Haas single to put the Zips (15-16) in front 4-1.

Akron added one run in the sixth, two in the seventh, one in the eighth and three in the ninth. The Penguins picked up a run in the seventh when Armani Johnson scored on Derek Carr’s sacrifice fly.

YSU scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth as Johnson singled home Jeremy Banks. Carr’s second sacrifice fly of the game plated Jonathan Crist and Neal Schroth reached on a fielding error that scored Johnson.

Kinnick (0-2) earned the loss while Bobby Simone (1-0) earned the victory.

YSU returns to action this weekend when it plays host to a three-game series against LeMoyne. The series features a doubleheader that starts on Saturday at noon, followed by a single game on Sunday. All three are set to be played at Eastwood Field.

Softball

Detroit

Sophomore Jordan Ingalls tied a school record with four hits in game one, and added three more in the second game to lead Youngstown State to a doubleheader sweep against Detroit, 14-1, and 11-2, on Wednesday at Buysse Ballpark.

The Penguins (11-22) scored 14 runs in the top of the first inning of game one, and were led by two-run home runs by junior Kim Klonowski and Ingalls, who went 4-for-4 and drove in four runs.

Ingalls also drove in two more with a two-out single in her second at-bat in the inning.

Overall, the Penguins tallied 14 hits in the opener.

In the second game, the Penguins again started early, scoring six runs in the top of the first inning. They added three more in the fourth and two more in the fifth.

Ingalls and Rumph each went 3-for-4 while Rendle, Klonowski and Gabel posted two hits apiece.

Senior Cheryl Cale picked up her fifth victory of the season, striking out five and allowing five hits.