Patonis’ RBI hit helps YSU split twinbill

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Freshman Demi Ann Patonis hit a run-scoring single with two outs in the sixth inning to lift the Youngstown State University softball team to doubleheader split on Friday against Illinois-Chicago.

The Penguins won the second game, 5-4, after dropping the opener, 7-2.

With the split, the Penguins (18-13, 5-2 Horizon League) have won 11 of their last 13 games.

The Flames (20-12) are a half-game ahead of the Penguins in the league standings. They are scheduled to play today at noon.

With the game knotted a 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth frame, junior Maria Lacatena, drilled a double to center field.

Senior Katie Smallcomb’s sacrifice bunt moved pinch-runner Alexa Schmidt to third, and, after a strikeout, Patonis laced the first pitch she saw to left field to score Schmidt. Lacatena finished 5-for-5 on the day.

Junior Caitlyn Minney (10-4) retired the Flames in order in the top of the seventh for the win. Minney allowed just five hits and struck out four and retired the final seven batters she face.

The Penguins jumped out to a 2-0 in the first on Lacatena’s single up the middle that scored Dowd and Miranda Castiglione.

Sarah Dowd led off the frame with a single to left field and advanced to third on a deep fly out to left by Cali Mikovich. Castilgione’s bunt single moved Dowd to third and her stolen base put both runners in scoring position for Lacatena.

The Flames scored twice in the second and once in the third to take a 3-2 lead through three-and-a-half innings. In the bottom of the fourth, back-to-back doubles by Smallcomb and Brittney Moffatt gave the Penguins a 4-3 edge.

In the opener, the Penguins committed two errors that led to three unearned runs and stranded 12 runners on base, including leaving the bases loaded twice.

Mikovich went 2-for-4 to lead the Penguins offense.