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YSU softball team sweeps Niagara in regular-season home finale
By Steve Wilaj
Youngstown
Fittingly enough, Katie Smallcomb’s sixth-inning single in a tie game two skipped under the glove of Niagara left fielder Sarah March. And just like Youngstown State had done all day, Smallcomb took advantage of the mistake.
The Penguins capitalized on Purple Eagles errors multiple times — none bigger than on Smallcombs base hit — in sweeping a doubleheader against Niagara, 6-0 and 3-2, on Thursday at the YSU softball complex.
“I was thinking, ‘I’m getting to third and then they’re gonna score me,’” Smallcomb said of seeing the ball roll to the left-field fence. “I just wanted to do something for my team.”
She did plenty, advancing to third on the error and scoring on a passed ball to give YSU a one-run lead. Kayla Haslett (8-7) then pitched a flawless seventh to close it out, as she earned a complete-game victory while allowing two runs on four hits.
“We did a good job [of capitalizing] the first game and second game,” Penguins third baseman Samantha Snodgrass said. “That’s obviously really big and good to see.”
YSU (25-20) scored three unearned runs on three errors by Niagara (13-27) in the first game before Smallcomb scored the deciding unearned run in the second contest.
The Penguins fell behind 2-0 in game two, but fought back to tie it in the fourth.
Darcella Blakey notched YSU’s first hit and first run of the game in the third with an RBI triple off Jennifer Sansano. Smallcomb then tied the contest in the fourth with an RBI double.
“We did a good job of making an adjustment to their pitcher,” YSU head coach Brian Campbell said. “Darcella came up with that big triple and then we were able to move that other run across.”
Game one proved to be much less dramatic, as the Penguins jumped to 3-0 lead in the third inning.
Sarah Ingalls’ double scored Miranda Castiglione, Ingalls scored on an error by right fielder Ally Gay and Snodgrass — who finished with two hits — hit an RBI single. Sarah Dowd and Courtney Ewing then added run-scoring singles in the fourth inning.
“We picked each other up and got a lot of hits when we needed them,” Smallcomb said. “Our offense was a little slow to start, but after a little while we got our hitting chemistry and our defense was really strong.
“And Casey threw like we all know she can and does.”
Starter Casey Crozier (15-6) allowed just two hits in seven shutout innings. She struck out nine and walked two.
“She’s was just tremendous,” Campbell said. “She’s been great all year long of doing her job.”
Crozier is one of five Penguins seniors who may have played their last home game unless YSU hosts the Horizon League tournament. The others are Snodgrass, Ewing, Ingalls and Haley Knight.
“The senior leadership has been incredible,” Campbell said. “They’ve been able to work hard and show the younger ladies the right way to do things. And they’ve done it all year long.”
YSU travels to Oakland for the weekend before finishing the regular season at Toledo and Detroit.
“This can definitely [give us momentum],” Snodgrass said. “It’s always nice to pick up two in one day and it can really get you going into the weekend.”