SPORTS digest

Scrappers sweep Black Bears

NILES

Will Benson hit a two-run double in the eighth inning, leading the Mahoning Valley Scrappers to a 5-2 win over the West Virginia Black Bears on Sunday. The Scrappers swept the three-game series and their magic number to clinch a playoff berth is down to nine (Scrappers wins or Black Bears losses).

The double by Benson came in the midst of a four-run inning and gave the Scrappers a 4-2 lead. Jonathan Laureano hit an RBI double, driving in Benson.

The Black Bears went up 2-1 when Julio De La Cruz hit a solo home run in the eighth.

Felix Tati (6-3) got the win in relief while Blake Weiman (3-2) took the loss in the New York-Penn League game.

YSU soccer team wins third straight

New Orleans

The Youngstown State women’s soccer team scored four goals in the second half en route to its third straight victory with a 4-0 win over Southern on Sunday.

The Penguins are 3-1 for just the second time in school history.

Senior Kyler Lum scored two goals and added an assist to lead the Penguins. Senior Marissa Martin and freshman Rasheda Abdul-Rahman each scored goals for YSU.

Junior Alison Green and freshman Sydney Ossege were credited with assists, and sophomore goalkeeper Kylee Moffett collected her third straight shutout with five saves.

The Penguins started slow in a scoreless first half and were outshot, 7-3, in the first 45 minutes. The second half, however, was a different story. The Penguins peppered the Southern defense with 13 total shots in the second, including eight shots on goal.

Martin gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead at the 58:46 mark when she buried Ossege’s cross into the back of the net. Abdul-Rahman pushed the Penguins advantage to 2-0 with her first career goal in the 77th minute.

Lum put the game out of reach with two goals within 64 seconds at the 82:31 and 83:35 marks. Lum has scored a goal in the last three matches.

The Penguins return home to host IPFW on Friday. Kickoff is set for 7:04 p.m. at Farmers National Bank Field.

Britten, Eucker win at Sharon Speedway

HARTFORD

Peter Britten, Chris Schneider and Jacob Eucker were among the wins in Saturday’s racing at Sharon Speedway.

Britten put on a dominating performance to win the 25-lap Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modified feature.

Schneider won the $2,000 2016 “Apple Festival Nationals” make-up feature on July 29 and returned to victory lane to become just the second repeat winner of the season in the competitive Gibson Insurance Agency-sponsored division.

Eucker won the Econo Mod division race.

KSU football coach on medical leave

KENT

Kent State University head coach Paul Haynes has taken a medical leave of absence from the Golden Flashes program. Haynes is expected to return to the team in two to three weeks.

Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Don Treadwell will serve as interim head coach during Haynes’ time away.

Kent State begins the season Sept. 2 at Clemson. The Flashes will make their home debut on Sept. 9 against Howard.

Stanford romps Down Under

SYDNEY

Running back Bryce Love didn’t take long to prove that he’s a very competent replacement for Christian McCaffrey at Stanford.

Love scored a touchdown and finished with 180 yards rushing to lead the No.14 Cardinal to a 62-7 victory over Rice on Sunday in the Sydney College Football Cup.

Love had 13 carries, including a 62-yard burst through the Rice line on Stanford’s opening play from scrimmage.

Staff/wire report