43
Penguins earn Horizon split with Vikings
By JON MOFFETT
CANFIELD
The Youngstown State softball team knew that Cleveland State senior pitcher Amanda Macenko was really good. They just wanted to make sure she wasn’t perfect.
Macenko (26-11) took a perfect game into the fourth inning of the second game of a double header against the Penguins. Two consecutive outs made it seem like inning No. 5 was in the books, too.
But a ground ball up the middle by junior Kim Klonowski erased the perfect game and the no-hitter. And the next pitch lost the shutout.
A two-run home run by sophomore outfielder Jordan Ingalls gave the Penguins the lead. They held on to win the second game 6-3. Cleveland State won the first game 13-3.
When asked about her keys hits — she also had an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning — Ingalls said her approach was no different than it usually is.
“Really, I just go up to bat and just try to do the same thing every time,” she said. “Especially if you have runners on, because you feel bad letting them down.”
There was no letdown for the Penguins (13-26, 6-8 Horizon League) after getting only six hits in the first game against Macenko, who pitched complete games in both contests. YSU coach Brian Campbell said he knew how important it was to split the day.
“I think we came into the second game refocused,” he said. “The young ladies really stepped up, and Jordan Ingalls really had a good day at the plate.”
The Penguins also got a huge boost from pitcher Cheryl Cale. Cale scattered nine hits across seven innings in the second game. She gave up three earned runs, but was supported by a strong defense and opportunistic offense.
“I didn’t feel any pressure, because nothing really is expected of us,” Cale said. “I think they had the pressure on them, because they were actually losing to us. There was more pressure on them because they were supposed to do what they did.”
Cale said the game showed the team’s resolve against a top team in the Vikings (32-11, 12-2), who lead the conference.
More than just an emotional win, the victory could have major implications on the Horizon League standings. The Penguins were ranked seventh out of nine conference teams. Only the top six seeds advance to the Horizon League tournament next month.
The Penguins will play host to the Vikings today at McCune Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.