43
YSU, Loyola split softball DH
By JOE CATULLO Jr.
CANFIELD
Looking around the Youngstown State softball team’s infield while on defense, players wear different styles of hair accessories.
Some wear headbands, others sport ribbons and sometimes both. Sarah Gabel wore sunglasses in left field on Thursday to block the sun during a doubleheader split with Loyola. Everybody’s hair is visible, even catcher Vicky Rumph’s ponytail that dangles behind her mask.
Shortstop Kelly Stowe takes a different approach. She wears a visor.
“I’ve always worn one; it’s just tradition to me,” she said. “Being from California, it’s always sunny there, so everyone wears one there. It’s rare that people don’t have one on in California, but I usually always have one on.”
Stowe struggled in the first game, committing three errors and tallying no hits in the 6-0 defeat. Then she adjusted to pitcher Brittany Gardner and collected two hits, including a solo home run, during a 6-0 victory in the second game.
It was the Penguins’ first win over Loyola (20-14, 8-3) since April 11, 2010.
“I’m so excited that we beat Loyola,” YSU (11-18, 5-6) pitcher Casey Crozier said. “To come out and be able to belly up against them was awesome.”
Gardner, the reigning Horizon League Pitcher of the Year, started both games. With eight right-handed hitters in YSU’s lineup against the southpaw, Gardner found comfort with the outside corner in the first game.
“I haven’t hit in like five years, but I know a lot of hitters struggle with a lefty,” Crozier said.
After the umpires switched clockwise for the second game, Gardner was not getting the outside strike as often and had to adjust.
The Penguins took advantage with six runs on six hits and two Loyola errors. The first word that came to coach Brian Campbell’s mind regarding that stat was productivity.
“This game’s all about making the small adjustments,” Stowe said. “We just knew what she was going to throw to us, so it was just about making adjustments, and I think the team adjusted well.”
Crozier, the Horizon League Pitcher of the Week, tossed another complete game and allowed no runs on three hits, no walks and struck out eight. She said her curveball did not work but was throwing her screwball well.
“She’s the first one to be a team player,” Campbell said. “She goes out and does her best. Today was another good performance and was able to get the win. I couldn’t be more proud of how she and the others played in the second game.”