YSU gets hits, but comes up mostly empty

March 26, 2015 at 12:08a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State softball coach Brian Campbell realized runs might be at a premium heading into Wednesday’s doubleheader with Kent State sending two pitchers to the mound sporting ERAs under 2.00.

So Campbell was pleasantly surprised when the Penguins outhit the Golden Flashes in both games. Unfortunately, those hits didn’t come at the right time.

As a result, Kent State swept the doubleheader with victories of 3-1 and 5-1 at the YSU Softball Complex.

“Kent State is a good ball team,” Campbell said. “But we needed to get those key hits at certain times and that goes with learning experience and being able to put the ball in play and get one or two of those runs across.”

The Penguins (10-14) outhit Kent State (19-6) each game, 7-5. But both times, those knocks didn’t amount to much.

In game one, YSU sophomore starting pitcher Caitlyn Minney (3-5) went all seven innings as she allowed three earned runs on five hits.

But she was outdueled by Kent State senior pitcher Emma Johnson (9-3, 0.87 ERA), who also threw a complete game. Johnson allowed one earned run on seven hits.

“We came out and were able to hit her,” Campbell said of Johnson, who’s earned victories against top-25 teams Central Florida and Michigan so far this season. “Their coach said that was the most hits she’s given up this year. We had a few opportunities there, but couldn’t capitalize.”

The Penguins — led by Miranda Castiglione’s two hits — scored their lone run in the bottom of the second inning on Sarah Dowd’s single. First though, the Flashes jumped ahead in the first inning on a Shelbi Tilton two-run homerun. They added another run in the sixth on Janel Hayes’ RBI single.

YSU’s Kayla Haslett (3-6) then took the loss in game two. She allowed five runs in 21/3 innings as Kent State led 5-1 after three when Arika Roush and Holly Speers each notched two-RBI doubles.

From there, it was all Ronnie Ladines (6-3, 1.73 ERA). The Golden Flashes sophomore tossed a complete game, allowing a run on seven hits.

She briefly ran into trouble in the fifth inning when the Penguins — who were paced by Maria Lacatena’s two hits — loaded the bases with no outs. But Ladines promptly worked out of trouble by inducing two pop-outs and getting a strikeout.

“It comes back to getting those one or two clutch hits that can open up a ballgame,” Campbell said.

Minney came on in the third inning and proceeded to work 42/3 scoreless innings in relief. For the day, the righty allowed just three runs in 112/3 innings.

“Everything was working today,” Minney said. “And then having my defense behind me really helped. We had a good defensive day today altogether, so it helps me have confidence in them.”

YSU is off until Tuesday when it hosts Oakland in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. The two-game set was originally scheduled for this weekend, but was postponed because of expected poor weather.