YSU roundup

Bowling

Penguins wins twice at Winter Classic

Orlando, Fla.

The Youngstown State bowling team earned a pair of head-to-head victories but slid back four spots in the team standings on the second day at the Sunshine State Winter Classic in Orlando, Fla.

The No. 25 Penguins won two of their first three matches of the day but had their lowest two scores of the weekend in the final two matches in losses. Youngstown State will be seeded 10th in today’s best-of-seven Baker games bracket.

“We battled all day, and I’m proud of the way we handled ourselves through some struggles,” YSU head coach Doug Kuberski said. “Pair-to-pair presented us with some new looks today, and we’ll make better adjustments heading into tomorrow. The most important thing is that we continue to grow as a unit. Tomorrow is a new opportunity to grow, and I’m confident we can regroup and get back to playing our game.”

YSU topped Prairie View A&M 934-904 to begin the day, and a 967-893 win over No. 22 Monmouth gave the Penguins a 2-1 record. YSU lost 941-881 to No. 2 Vanderbilt in its second match, and the final two matches resulted in a 932-792 loss to No. 18 Maryville and a 914-837 setback to No. 12 Delaware State.

Nikki Mendez was the top individual finisher for the Penguins with a 21st-place score of 972. She began the day with a 235, which was YSU’s highest score of the day, and she also rolled a 232. Emma Dockery finished 37th with an 886 as the only other Penguin to start all five matches.

Youngstown State will begin bracket play with a rematch against Prairie View A&M at 8:25 a.m. today.

Softball

USC-Upstate throws no-hitter against YSU

Spartanburg, S.C

USC-Upstate starter Christina Biggerstaff threw a no-hitter against the Youngstown State softball team in the second game of the day for the Penguins on Saturday at the Spartan Classic.

The Penguins fell to 0-4 after losses to Miami (Ohio), 6-0, and USC-Upstate, 2-1.

Biggerstaff allowed one unearned run on five walks while striking out 16 in seven innings.

Elle Buffenbarger allowed just two hits but gave up five walks in the loss to Upstate.

Grace Cea drove in the Penguins’ only run on a bases loaded walk in the top of the third inning.

Upstate’s Megan Obier drove home a run on a sacrifice fly in the first and Brittany Case scored in the second on throwing error by catcher Demi Ann Patonis.

In the opener, freshman Alex DeLeon went 2-for-3 to lead the Penguins (0-4) offensively. Yazmine Romero, Lexi Zappitelli and Nikki Saibene also had hits for the Penguins.

Paige Geanangel took her first loss of the season. She allowed five runs — four earned — on six hits and four walks, striking out a pair in three innings. Addy Jarvis pitched three innings of relief, allowing one run on a hit and two walks.

The Redhawks scored five runs in the first two innings. Miami (Ohio) scored a pair in the first and added three more in the second.

The Penguins are back in action Feb. 22-24, at the UNC-Charlotte Tournament and will face Winthrop on Feb. 22 at 12:15 p.m.

Staff reports