43
Good advice helps Penguins get the drop on CSU
Jarvis fans 10 in four-hit shutout
By BOB ETTINGER
YOUNGSTOWN
Grace Cea and Alex DeLeon had seen the offerings.
They knew exactly what was coming and, using the advice of Youngstown State assistant coach Sara Zilles, adjusted perfectly to lead the Penguins past Cleveland State University, 3-0, at Covelli Sports Complex on Friday night.
“We always preach discipline at the plate,” DeLeon said. “We’re going to wait on it if it’s outside or we’re going to turn on it if it’s inside. Coach Z said to move up in the box and wait for an outside pitch. That’s what I did.”
DeLeon wasn’t the first Penguin to receive the advice or make that simple adjustment. Cea was given the same advice several batters earlier and used it to her advantage.
“After the first time through the lineup, we realized [Cleveland State pitcher Hanna Griffin] was throwing slow and on a down angle. I scooted up in the box and looked for something outside. The first time up I pulled it to the shortstop. After that, I was looking for a pitch I could drive. I saw an outside pitch and went with it and did my job.”
After Yazmine Romero reached on an infield single and Lexi Zappitelli singled to shallow right, Cea drove a ball deep into the gap in right-center to put YSU (18-20, 6-2 in Horizon League) up, 2-0, in the home half of the third.
Cea had faced a similar situation in the first and grounded into a fielder’s choice.
“The first time, we were seeing the pitcher for the first time,” Cea said. “Getting into that situation again motivates me because the I know what to do. I know what my job is. The second time through, we were all more confident. We got in a groove and we all started hitting. I was looking for a pitch I could put a good swing on and get the girls home.”
Three batters later, DeLeon laced a single down the right-field line to plate Tatum Christy with an insurance run.
“Coming into that at-bat, I knew [Griffin] was throwing drop balls and everything was outside,” DeLeon said. “We had two outs and I was trying to help us score another run. I had the mindset I was looking for a low and outside pitch and tried to go to the right side.”
Addy Jarvis made the lead stand up with her fifth shutout. She scattered four hits, fanned 10 and walked one.
“She was keeping hitters off balance,” YSU coach Brian Campbell said. “When she’s able to do that, she’s able to do pretty good for us.”
Romero and Zappitelli each had two hits for the Penguins.
The Penguins and Vikings will continue the three-game series with a doubleheader today (1 p.m. and 3 p.m.) while honoring seniors Dani Dadig, Paige Geanangel and Zappitelli.
“I’m proud of the three seniors,” Campbell said. “I’m proud of what they’ve done for the program. I’m proud of what those young ladies have given the program and they’re going to go on and represent the program well after they graduate.”