Thomas sets mark in YSU win

Staff report

Valparaiso

Senior Haley Thomas became the school’s all-time hits leader as the Youngstown State softball team advanced in the Horizon League tournament with an 8-4 win over Green Bay on Thursday at Valparaiso University Field.

The Penguins (29-20-1), who picked up their first tournament win since 2006, will play top-seeded Valparaiso in an elimination game today at noon.

Green Bay (23-28) was eliminated.

Thomas, who has 232 career hits, broke the record of 231 by current associate head coach Tiffany Patteson from 2003-06.

Freshman Kayla Haslett, who was named to the Horizon League’s all-newcomer team, scattered eight hits over four innings pitched to pick up her eighth win of the season.

Sophomore Casey Crozier threw three scoreless innings of relief to earn her third save of the year.

With YSU trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning, Thomas hit a two-out double to score Sarah Gabel and Haslett.

After Caroline Krombach reached on an error and stole second, Thomas scored on a passed ball and senior Jordan Ingalls, who went 2 for 3, singled to score Krombach, giving YSU a 4-2 lead.

Green Bay tied the score before the Penguins added a run in the third on a RBI single by Courtney Ewing.

In the fourth, Ingalls doubled and eventually scored on an illegal pitch to give YSU a 6-4 lead.

Gabel had a RBI single and Kristen Philen added a sacrifice fly for YSU.