YSU comes up short despite Birkbeck’s blast

Staff report

YOUNNGSTOWN

The Youngstown State softball team’s three-game winning streak was snapped after dropping a 9-3 decision to Oakland in the series finale on the Sunday afternoon.

The Penguins fall to 13-18 overall and 4-5 in the Horizon League while the Golden Grizzlies improve to 9-19 overall and 3-3 in the league.

Had the Penguins won, it would have given coach Brian Campbell his 500th career victory.

Youngstown State, which had more than 10 hits in each of the previous two games, was limited to just four hits. Sophomore Elizabeth Birkbeck blasted a two-run home run in the top of the fourth to get the Penguins within two, 5-3.

The Golden Grizzlies, who scored two in the first, one one in the second and two more in the third to take a 5-1 lead, answered with two more runs in the bottom half of the fourth and two in the bottom of the sixth.

The Penguins continue their homestand with a three-game series against Northern Kentucky, April 10-11, at the Covelli Sports Complex. First pitch for Tuesday’s doubleheader is slated for 3 p.m.