Loyola’s Gardner tames Penguins

Photo by: David Dermer

The Vindicator (Youngstown)

Photo

Youngstown State’s third baseman Samantha Snodgrass (6) looks to first base to make a throw during a game Saturday against Loyola at McCune Park in Canfield. The Penguins opened their season at home with a doubleheader against the Ramblers, who won both contests.

By Tom Williams

williams@vindy.com

CANFIELD

In weather conditions more suitable for the AFC Championship Game or the NHL Winter Classic than softball, the hottest thing on the field was Loyola pitcher Brittany Gardner.

The Ramblers ace handcuffed Youngstown State’s bats, spoiling the Penguins’ home opener in Saturday’s sweep at McCune Park. The lefthanded Gardner tossed a four-hitter in the 4-2 Horizon League opener and a two-hitter in the 10-1, five-inning triumph in round two.

“Loyola’s pitcher did a good job today,” YSU head coach Brian Campbell said. “The lefty held our hitters down and in the last ballgames we’ve had, we’ve been a real good hitting team. They did a good job of shutting our bats down today.”

Gardner carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning of the first game. With YSU trailing 4-0, Kristina Rendle lined a two-out double over center fielder Brooke Andresen for YSU’s first hit in their home park.

Two pitches later Jordan Ingalls doubled to right-center field to score Rendle. Vicky Rumph’s bloop single into shallow left-center field scored Ingalls and gave the Penguins’ hope.

But the rally ended when Sarah Gabel grounded into a fielder’s choice.

Rendle said at first she wasn’t impressed with Gardner.

“But obviously, [whatever she was doing] worked,” said Rendle who went 1-for-6 on the day.

Asked about pitch that she hit to break up the no-hitter, Rendle laughed.

“It was a low one,” said the Penguins’ second baseman who added that she wasn’t looking for anything special. “It was one of those ‘see ball, hit ball’ things.”

In the Penguins’ final at-bat, Caroline Krombach’s lead-off double rekindled the Penguins’ comeback thoughts.

But Gardner settled down, retiring the next three batters on a strikeout and two infield pop-ups.

Campbell said Gardner was the first lefthander the Penguins (15-9, 0-2 Horizon) have faced this season. He said the batters face “a different spin. To our left-handed batters, it’s more of a spinning outward. To our righties, it’s more of a handcuff, it’s really tight on the inside of the plate.”

The Penguins and Ramblers will conclude their three-game set today at noon at McCune. Most likely, Loyola (10-9, 2-0) will send Gardner (7-5, 2-0) back to the mound.

“I think we need to make our adjustments faster and we’ll be OK,” said Rendle, who admitted facing a southpaw “is different. The ball comes off the bat different, the pitch comes in different.”

Campbell said, “As a team, what these kids are about is they will go home tonight, regroup and they understand that tomorrow is a new day.”

Casey Crozier (9-5) took the loss in the opener. Third baseman Samantha Snodgrass’ error on Jenna Grim’s swing and Lauren Arceneaux’s bunt that landed on the foul line and didn’t roll opened the Ramblers’ second inning.

Pinch runner Olivia Bell and Arceneaux then scored on Jacqueline Grim’s double.

With two outs, Carly Benford singled to score Grim for a 3-0 lead.

Saturday’s games were the Penguins’ first since returning from Florida last weekend.

As for the 28-degree temperature, Crozier said, “Adjusting is kind of mind over matter. “You can’t really think about, ‘oh, it’s so cold.’ You just have to go out there and say I can get through this.”

Crozier said there is a reason she chose not to wear extra layers under her uniform.

“I’m actually really superstitious,” said Crozier on why she didn’t change. ”This was one of the colder days I’ve ever pitched.”

In the second game, the Ramblers pounced on Penguins starter Hana Somogyi for three home runs in the second inning for a 5-0 lead.

Jenna Grim and Andresen had solo shots while Lauren Zaworski crushed a three-run homer. Crozier relieved Somogyi (5-3) with two outs in the second inning and finished the game.