YSU softball loses opener

Staff report

Valparaiso, Ind.

Sophomore Casey Crozier scattered seven hits and struck out six, but the Youngstown State softball team dropped a 3-0 decision to Butler in the first round of the Horizon League tournament at the Valparaiso Softball Field on Wednesday.

Crozier was outdueled by Butler’s Leah Bry, who allowed just three hits to the league’s top offense, and struck out four.

Senior Jordan Ingalls, junior Caroline Krombach and sophomore Sarah Ingalls each collected hits for the Penguins.

The Penguins (28-20-1) will play either No. 6 Green Bay or No. 2 Loyola today at 5 p.m. in an elimination game.

Butler (24-30) plays top-seeded Valparaiso today at noon in a semifinal.

Butler’s Erin Falkenberry hit a solo home run in the top of the second inning and that is all the offense Bry needed.

The Bulldogs added runs in the top of the fourth and top of the seventh to seal the victory.

In the fourth inning, Kristen Boros led off with a single and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Meaghan Sullivan.

Lauren McNulty followed with a base hit that put runners at the corners, and after Erin Falkenberry struck out, Mallory Winters singled to center field on an 0-1 pitch, scoring Boros.

The Bulldogs’ Callie Dennison led off the seventh inning with a double and advanced to third on Jessica Huey’s sacrifice bunt. Alyssa Coleman, a pinch-hitter, then hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Dennison.

The Penguins had the leadoff batter reach in the third and sixth innings, but Youngstown State went down in order the remainder of the innings without advancing the runner.