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Gone with the wind
A record six home runs help the Penguins earn a split with Niagara
By JON MOFFETT
CANFIELD
Photo
Youngstown State fi rst baseman Kim Klonowski stretches to retire Niagara’s Beck Zill (14) in the fi rst game of a doubleheader at McCune Park on Wednesday. The Penguins split the games, winning the fi rst 15-10, and losing the second 12-2.
The Youngstown State softball team closed out its home season in spectacular fashion Wednesday night, and broke several school records in the process.
Aided by a strong wind blowing out to center field, the Penguins blasted six home runs in the first game of a doubleheader against Niagara at McCune Park. YSU split the on the day, winning the first game 15-10, and dropping the second 12-2.
While the offense cooled off considerably in the second game, the Penguins (14-31, 6-12 Horizon League) broke the school record for home runs in a game with six. The previous record, of five, was set in a 2008 game against Niagara.
Sophomore Haley Thomas had by far the best day for the Penguins. In the first game, Thomas blasted three home runs, including only the 10th grand slam in school history. Thomas broke school records for most home runs in one game (3), in an inning (2), most RBIs in one inning (5) and tied the record for most RBIs in a game (6).
When asked about the long list of achievements she’d earned, she was speechless.
“Wow,” she said. “The chances of that ever happening again are slim to none, and you can’t expect that to happen every game, obviously. But it’s great that it did happen.”
Two of Thomas’ home runs, and five of the six RBIs came in the bottom of the first inning. Thomas led off with a solo shot to deep center field. In her next at bat, after teammates had loaded the bases, Thomas hit a monster shot to straightaway center.
But it was Thomas’ third homer of the day that dropped jaws.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Thomas again lead off with a towering shot. This one flew over the scoreboard, which a YSU staff member said was at least 250 feet away.
Thomas’ bombs counted as three of the team’s 14 hits in the first game.
YSU coach Brian Campbell said he was impressed with the way the ball was jumping off the bats. But he said he wished the same could be said for the second game, which featured only three Penguins hits.
Joining Thomas with home runs were junior Kim Klonowski, who had two in the first game; sophomore Amanda Palmore, who had one in each game, and senior Kristina Davidson.
In the bottom of third inning of game two, Palmore led off with a solo shot and Davidson followed with her bomb.
With only one plate appearance all year, and four in her career, Davidson, a Columbiana High graduate, launched a shot over the left fielder, and trotted around the bases with a big smile on her face.
“Honestly, I wasn’t even expecting anything. I was just happy I hit the ball,” she said.
Davidson said her mother, Katrina, who was in attendance, called her husband crying to tell him the news.
“It’s very nice to have that end my career here at YSU in my last home game. I don’t want it to overshadow what the team did, but personally, it’s a great feeling.”
Campbell said it was the perfect finishing touch to a season, and career, at McCune Park.
“For a senior be able to come up and hit her first career home run in her last game on the field here is pretty incredible,” he said. “There wasn’t a dry eye in this dugout. For her to be able to get that opportunity is really something special.”