Sports Digest || YSU softball team loses twice to Pitt, 5-1, 6-3

YSU softball team loses twice to Pitt, 5-1, 6-3

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Senior Cheryl Cale struck out six and allowed just two earned runs in the opener and the YSU softball team banged out 10 hits in the nightcap but the Penguins dropped a doubleheader Wednesday to Pittsburgh, 5-1, 6-3.

Cale held the Panthers scoreless through five innings and held a 1-0 lead thanks to a run-scoring double by sophomore Kristen Philen in the top of the fifth.

However, in the bottom of the sixth, Cale gave up five runs, three of them unearned, on three hits, an error, a hit batter and a walk.

In the nightcap, the Penguins fell behind 6-0 after three innings.

Vicky Rumph homered — her team-high fourth — in the top of the fourth inning.

Soccer officials to meet

SALEM

There will be a soccer referees clinic at the Salem Memorial Building on Saturday from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.

This is a recertification clinic for already licensed soccer referees.

For details call (330) 853-8729 or see www.mvsoa.org.

Basketball officials

Two area basketball officials will be working at this weekend’s boys state tournament.

Mike Vaschak of Boardman has been selected for his ninth boys tournament and 15th overall, and Rob Lee of Warren has been selected for the fifth time.

Key Biscayne tennis

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla.

Justine Henin advanced to the second round of the Sony Ericsson Open by beating Jill Craybas 6-2, 6-2 on Wednesday.

Henin double-faulted five times Wednesday and struggled with inconsistent groundstrokes. But she saved seven of eight break points while converting five of six.

The 33rd-ranked Henin, a former No. 1 and seven-time Grand Slam champion, is mounting a comeback this year after a 20-month retirement. She’ll play fifth-seeded Elena Dementieva in the second round Friday.

“I realize it’s gonna take a little bit of time to really be in the good rhythm and find myself again on the court, and I have to get used to different kind of things,” Henin said.

Raiders finish 13th

LILBURN, GA

Mount Union’s women’s basketball team finished No. 13 in the final Women’s Basketball Coaches Association USA Today/ESPN Top 25 National Poll and D3Hoops.com Top 25 Poll for the 2009-10 season.

The Purple Raiders won the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament title, made it to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, advanced to the Sweet 16 before falling to eventual national champion Washington (MO) and ended up winning 26 games which was the second highest single-season total in school history.

Mount Union will return four starters in 2010-11 and had just one senior on the roster this past season.

Board can drop Fighting Sioux name

BISMARCK, N.D.

An attorney for North Dakota says the state higher education board can drop the University of North Dakota’s Fighting Sioux nickname before the deadline in a court settlement.

But an attorney for eight Spirit Lake Sioux tribal members told the state Supreme Court on Tuesday that the Board of Higher Education must allow more time for members to voice their opinions on the matter.

The board is trying to drop the nickname before a Nov. 30 deadline set as part of a settlement between UND and the NCAA, which considers it hostile to American Indians.

Messi tops Beckham to become highest paid

PARIS

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi has deposed David Beckham to top France Football’s list of the soccer players who earn the most.

The Argentina forward, the reigning FIFA player of the year, is said to have made $44 million last year in salary and endorsement income. Beckham, who has been first or second in each of the last nine years, took home $40.5 million in 2009, according to the report Wednesday.

Vindicator staff/wire reports