YSU roundup

SOFTBALL

Tatum Christy earns Horizon player honors

Youngstown State University freshman Tatum Christy was named the Horizon League Softball Player of the Week on Monday. Christy led the Penguins to a 3-2 week and batted .727 in five games, going 8-for-11 with a triple, home run and seven RBIs. She posted a slugging percentage of 1.182. It marked Christy’s first career home run and triple. The New Franklin native and went 4-for-4 with a triple and a home run and four RBIs in a 6-1 win over Valparaiso on April 1. She also went 3-for-4 with two RBIs in 6-5 loss to the Crusaders on April 2. Youngstown State returns to action with a doubleheader against Niagara, Wednesday at 3 p.m.

BASEBALL

Kendrick is named Horizon batter of week

Youngstown State junior first baseman Andrew Kendrick has been named Horizon League batter of the week. It is the third time in the first seven weeks of the season that Kendrick has earned the honor. Kendrick hit three home runs and batted .455 in YSU’s series at Northern Kentucky over the weekend. He hit a solo homer in the series opener, and the Springfield, Mo., native hit a solo home run and a three-run blast against the Norse on Saturday. He posted a .571 on-base percentage and a 1.273 slugging percentage for the week. Kendrick is just the second Penguin to be named the Horizon League Batter of the Week three times in the same season, joining Jeremy Banks in 2012. Kendrick leads the country in home runs per game with 0.55, and he ranks fifth in total home runs with 11. The junior is seventh nationally in slugging percentage (.789) and 20th in RBIs per game (1.25). He tops the Horizon League in each of those categories. Youngstown State has four games this week. YSU will play at Kent State today at 4 p.m., and it will begin a three-game series against Horizon League-leading Wright State on Friday at 3 p.m.

BOWLING

Gilliam nominated for NTCA coaching award

Head women’s bowling coach Chelsea Gilliam has been nominated for the National Tenpin Coaches Association Division I Coach of the Year award. Gilliam is one of 10 Division I coaches nominated for the NTCA’s annual award. She led the Penguins to a top 25 ranking in the program’s inaugural season as an intercollegiate sport. No other first-year program is ranked in the top 25. YSU ranked 21st in the country across all divisions in team scoring average, and its strength of schedule ranked 16th. Youngstown State earned three wins over teams ranking in the top 10 this season and finished in the top eight of four tournaments. Penguins freshmen Rachel Darrow, Alexis Grim and Nikki Mendez each earned a top-12 finish in at least one tournament this season.

VOLLEYBALL

Team to host tourney, postseason banquet

The Youngstown State volleyball team will host a spring tournament and its annual postseason banquet this weekend. The Penguins will welcome six teams and a squad of YSU Alumni on Saturday for an eight-team tournament. The teams participating are Youngstown State, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Duquesne, Robert Morris, Akron, Wheeling Jesuit and the YSU Alumni. Matches will be held in Beeghly Center and the Stambaugh Stadium gymnasiums. Play will begin around 10 a.m. The banquet will be held on Sunday in the Presidents Suite of Kilcawley Center. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m., and lunch will start at 11:15. The program, which will include a video, awards and a senior salute, will follow. Cost of the banquet is $20 per person, and student-athlete meals may be sponsored for $15. To reserve a place at the banquet or to sponsor a student-athlete’s meal, email coach Sarah Smith at slsmith11@ysu.edu by 5 p.m. today.

Staff report