Youngstown State earns split with Rumph’s 10th-inning RBI

March 25, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

By Brandon Judeh

Canfield

Despite committing four first inning errors, the Youngstown State University softball team rallied to defeat Butler 6-5 in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday at McCune Park.

The Penguins (14-6, 1-1 Horizon) started to chip away at the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when, with two outs, Kristen Philen doubled and came around to score after two Butler errors.

Philen had a solid game for the Penguins with three hits and two runs.

With the score 5-2, it was up to freshman starting pitcher Kayla Haslett to keep her team in the game by putting zeroes up on the board.

“How about the freshman coming in and pitching 10 innings?” said YSU head coach Brian Campbell. “And the defense really picked it up after the fifth inning and did a great job.”

Haslett scattered nine hits and five runs (three earned) over 10 innings.

In the bottom of the sixth the Penguins completed the rally by batting through the lineup. Junior catcher Vicky Rumph tied the game on a two-run single, but that would not be the last of Rumph.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th, Rumph, once again, had a chance to be the hero.

She came through with an infield single that scored Haley Thomas — her third RBI of the game and the game-winner.

“It feels so good to get the win; we really wanted to beat these guys, especially after we had game one in our grasp and let it get away,” Rumph said.

The opener started out well for YSU as senior outfielder Jordan Ingalls notched an RBI double into deep center field giving the Penguins the first-inning lead.

The Penguins led 2-1 heading into the fourth when Butler’s Erin Falkenberry crushed a no-doubter over the centerfield fence to knot the game at two.

YSU quickly took the lead back in the bottom half of the fourth by taking advantage of a Bulldog error. Thomas came through with a sacrifice fly and Caroline Krombach got an RBI when she laid down a perfect bunt, giving the Penguins a two-run lead.

Pitcher Casey Crozier quickly recorded two outs in the fifth inning, but Butler started a two-out-rally. After the Bulldogs loaded the bases thanks to two hits and a walk, YSU committed a throwing error that scored two.

Butler won the game 5-4 in the seventh inning when Mallory Winters knocked in Meaghan Sullivan on a single.

YSU freshman Brooke Meenachan then struck out with two runners on in the bottom of the inning to end the game.