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Lacatena, Geanangel lift Penguins
By Gary Housteau
YOUNGSTOWN
A sixth-inning home run to dead center by Maria Lacatena gave the Youngstown State softball team an insurance run they almost needed as Paige Geanangel struck out Niagara’s Jessica Chandler with the bases loaded on a full-count pitch with two outs to end the game and give the Penguins a 3-1 win at YSU Softball Field.
“I was a little nervous. It was a close game,” said Geanangel, who fell behind in the count 3-1 on the last batter. “I was just hoping my defense would stay behind me and hoping that I would get some strikes called and could get it over the plate. I don’t know, I was kind of nervous. I was just hoping to get an out.”
Geanangel struck out three overall, scattered eight hits and gave up one earned run over seven innings to improve to 8-6 on the campaign. The freshman from Indian Creek High School in Hopedale has won seven of her last eight decisions on the mound.
“It was definitely a big change from coming into college as a freshman,” Geanangel said. “But my defense has been helping out a lot and so has the offense. We’ve been getting the runs and making the plays. It was just a big adjustment, I just think that just getting used to it, and the seniors have definitely helped with that, and the other pitcher Caitlyn [Minney] has helped get me used to everything. And [my confidence level] is better than it was in the fall, especially, and then in the beginning of the season.”
For Lacatena, her home run with the bases empty was the sixth of the season and the second hit of the game for YSU’s junior catcher who upped her average to .318.
“As soon as I hit it, it looked like it was going out, but then it kind of went lower and lower” Lacatena said. “But then it did go over the fence and it felt awesome. It felt amazing, actually. We needed that insurance run.”
Lacatena’s confidence never wavered in Geanangel in the top of the seventh as Niagara was just a base hit away from possibly taking the game into extra innings.
“She keeps it interesting. She definitely keeps it interesting. But she did great, [and] I had all the confidence in her,” Lacatena said. “She was [down 3-1 on the count], she definitely was and we stuck with the inside pitch on her and we got her. It was great. I kind of like gave her a head nod, like. ‘You got this,’ and the head nod definitely goes a long way with her because she knows I have her back on anything.”
The growth in Geanangel’s game is obvious to Lacatena.
“Oh yeah, from the beginning, yeah she changed a lot,” Lacatena said. “I think she matured really quick for a freshman. She’s been pitching, all of our pitchers have been pitching great during practice, we’ve been working on it really hard. So you can’t ask for anything more.”
YSU coach Brian Campbell echoed similar sentiments about Geanangel.
“She’s a freshman,” he said. “Usually when freshmen come in sometimes it takes them a little time to adjust at the college level. She’s done a tremendous job of adjusting and you’ve seen the results here recently.”
With the non-conference win, the Penguins, winners of 10 of their last 11 games, improve to 17-12. Rain washed out the second game of the scheduled doubleheader between the teams.
“They don’t hit the panic mode. They just relax and have a chance to know that they’re working for the next out,” Campbell said. “The young ladies have done a tremendous job in that streak. I’m proud of how they’re playing.”