Penguins escape with 8th-inning win

Staff report

Youngstown

Senior Samantha Snodgrass’ bases-loaded fielder’s choice in the bottom of the eighth inning scored sophomore Miranda Castiglione to lift the Youngstown State softball team to Saturday’s 3-2 win over Wright State at the YSU Softball Field.

YSU head coach Brian Campbell earned career win No. 399.

Castiglione led off the bottom of the eighth with a walk. Singles by senior Sarah Ingalls and sophomore Katie Smallcomb loaded the bases for Snodgrass, who hit a chopper to first base but Castiglione beat the throw home.

Snodgrass made the defensive play of the game in the top half of the eighth. With runners on second and third with one out, the Raiders’ Taylor Knore’s squeeze bunt down the third base line was fielded by Snodgrass, who flipped the ball from her glove to catcher Maria Lacatena for the out.

Senior Casey Crozier, who picked up her 13th win, induced an infield pop up to retired the side. Crozier struck out seven and did not allow a walk in her 15th complete game.

After allowing four hits through the first four innings, Crozier allowed two hits the rest of the game.

The Raiders (13-27, 8-6 Horizon League) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on a Becka Peterson double and a Kortney Tacket fielder’s choice.

The Penguins cut the Raiders’ lead in half in the bottom of the third after a Castiglione infield single. Lacatena walked and moved to second on Courtney Ewing‘s single to right field. After a groundout moved the runners to second and third, Castiglione hit a slow roller to third and beat the throw at first.

The Penguins (22-19, 7-6) host Dayton in a doubleheader Monday at 1 p.m.