Crozier pitches YSU softball team over Green Bay

Staff report

CANFIELD

Junior Casey Crozier turned in another dominant performance in the circle and the Youngstown State softball team held off Green Bay for a 4-2 Senior Day victory on Saturday afternoon at McCune Park.

The Penguins improve to 12-19 overall and 6-7 in the Horizon League while the Phoenix fall to 10-20 overall and 3-7 in the league.

Crozier, who picked up her 11th win of the season and six in league play, pitched five shutout innings with seven strikeouts and allowed just three hits. The Phoenix threatened to score just once against Crozier loading the bases with two outs, but Crozier fanned the next batter to thwart the threat.

Senior Sarah Gabel went 2-for-2 and scored to runs and freshman Miranda Castiglione belted her first career home run - a two-run shot that gave the Penguins a 4-0 lead.

Gabel doubled to lead off the bottom of the second inning and later scored on Haley Knight’s sacrifice fly to give the Penguins a 1-0 advantage.

In the bottom of the third, Samantha Snodgrass doubled then scored on an errant throw on Kelly Stowe’s sacrifice bunt to push the Penguins lead to 2-0.

Gabel’s two out walk in the bottom of the fifth continued the inning and led the Castiglione’s two-run home run.

The Phoenix scored once in the sixth and once in the seventh but could not get any closer.

The Penguins and Phoenix will play a doubleheader starting at noon today at McCune Park.