First-place Penguins take two from CSU

Staff report

Youngstown

The Youngstown State softball team moved into sole possession of first place in the Horizon League after sweeping Cleveland State in a doubleheader, 2-1 and 4-2, on Senior Day at the Covelli Sports Complex on Saturday.

The Penguins (20-20, 8-2 Horizon League) have won 16 of their last 19 games. YSU swept a three-game weekend series from CSU (10-26, 3-9) after winning 3-0 on Friday night.

In the opener, sophomore Elle Buffenbarger struck out five in six innings pitched and allowed just one hit while freshman Addy Jarvis earned her first career save by closing out the seventh.

Junior Maddi Lusk went 2 for 2 with a pair of doubles had a run batted in.

The Penguins cranked out 10 hits in the nightcap sparked by Alex DeLeon, who went 2 for 2, and Nikki Saibene, who was 2 for 3.

Senior Paige Geanangel allowed just two hits and no earned runs through five-plus innings to pick up her fourth win of the year.

The Penguins scored three times in the bottom of the second to jump out to a 3-0 lead. After DeLeon walked and Saibene and senior Dani Dadig singled to load the bases, DeLeon scored on Yazmine Romero’s fielder’s choice and error.

After another fielder’s choice cut down Saibene at the plate, Grace Cea lined a two-out single to right field to score Dadig and Romero.

The Vikings scored an unearned run in the top of the fourth to cut the lead to 3-1, but junior Tatum Christy belted a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth to extend the YSU lead to 4-1.

CSU added another unearned run in the top of the sixth before Jarvis pitched two scoreless innings of relief with four whiffs to get her second save of the day.

YSU hosts Wright State in a three-game series Tuesday and Wednesday at the Covelli Sports Complex.