YSU softball splits with Northern Kentucky

April 25, 2019 at 12:00a.m.

Highland Heights, KY

The Youngstown State softball team split a doubleheader with Northern Kentucky on Wednesday. The Norse won the first game 3-1. The Penguins took the nightcap 2-0.

The Norse opened scoring with a three-run bottom of the fourth inning. Taylor Hoover hit a two-run double to left and scored on an error by Maddi Lusk. Miyah Mitchum hit an RBI single, scoring Alex DeLeon for YSU (22-24, 10-6 Horizon League).

Penguins pitcher Paige Geanangel allowed three runs — two earned — on five hits, striking out five in six innings. Emily Koperdak allowed one run on five hits and a walk with 10 strikeouts for the Norse (16-26, 9-8).

In Game 2, Elle Buffenbarger struck out five and walked four in a four-hitter for YSU. Lusk hit an RBI single to center field to drive in Lexi Zappitelli in the first. Tatum Christy scored in the sixth on a fielder’s choice by Nikki Saibene.

Taylor Ginther allowed two runs on eight hits and a walk in a complete-game loss.

The Penguins will host UIC on Friday at 3 p.m.

Canfield to host sports medicine class

CANFIELD

A coaches sports medicine class, required for those applying for or renewing pupil activity permits, will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday in the Canfield High School cafeteria.

NCAA: Replay to make targeting more certain

INDIANAPOLIS

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel adjusted the targeting rule in college football, allowing video review officials to overturn calls if any element of the penalty cannot be confirmed.

The adjustment announced Tuesday means there will be no option for letting the call on the field “stand” during a targeting review. It must either be confirmed or overturned. The goal is to call targeting more accurately and have fewer players ejected for borderline calls.

The panel also approved instituting a progressive penalty for targeting. Players who commit three targeting fouls in the same season are subject to a one-game suspension.

Overtime rules were tweaked. If a game reaches a fifth overtime, teams will run alternating 2-point plays instead of starting another drive at the opponent’s 25-yard line. The change was made to limit the number of plays from scrimmage and to bring the game to a conclusion.

Witness at NCAA trial paid football recruits

NEW YORK

A key witness for prosecutors at a trial stemming from a crackdown on corruption in college basketball says he paid college football players to secure their business when they joined the NFL.

Louis Martin Blazer, testifying Tuesday and Wednesday n Manhattan federal court, described paying players at schools including Pittsburgh, Penn State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Northwestern, North Carolina and Alabama.

Blazer said he did it so they’d hire him as their financial adviser when they became professionals.

He says he answered the request of a Penn State coach and gave a $10,000 check to the father of a first-round draft pick in the 2009 NFL draft. The money was paid back. He says he also paid a North Carolina player who was drafted by the New York Giants.

Baylor women’s hoops to visit White House

WACO, Texas

National champion Baylor has accepted an invitation to visit the White House next week.

The school said Wednesday that coach Kim Mulkey and the Lady Bears are scheduled to be in Washington on Monday to celebrate their third national championship. They are expected to visit with President Donald Trump.

Mulkey and her team also visited the White House after the previous national titles, meeting with President George W. Bush in 2005 and President Barack Obama in 2012.

Staff/wire report