MEN’S GOLF

MEN’S GOLF

Freshman Kordupel 29th for Penguins

Boulder City, Nev.

Bryan Kordupel earned a career-best finish to lead the Youngstown State men’s golf team in its spring debut at the Jackrabbit Invitational at Boulder Creek Golf Club on Saturday.

Competing as an individual, Kordupel finished 29th with a career-best three-round total of 226 (77-75-74) on the par-72 course. The freshman’s third-round 74 included 10 pars and three birdies. Kordupel was YSU’s top finisher at an event for the first time this season. During the second round, he had a stretch where he birdied or pared 14 of 16 holes.

Kordupel is a Boardman High School graduate.

As a team, the Penguins posted a three-round total of 919 to finish tied for 11th. Battling windy conditions, YSU posted a 311 in each of the first two rounds on Friday before improving 14 strokes with a 297 in the final round on Saturday.

In his YSU debut, transfer Zack Ford finished tied for 34th with a three-round 228 (75-79-74). The sophomore’s third-round 74 featured 10 pars and three birdies.

Kevin Scherr finished one stroke behind Ford in a tie for 41st with a 229 (76-77-76). The sophomore began his second round with a birdie or par on 10 of his first 11 holes. During the final round, he birdied or pared 10 consecutive holes at one point.

Poland High School graduate Jason McQuown carded a three-round 233 (78-80-75). The senior’s third-round 75 featured 11 pars and two birdies. Cardinal Mooney High School graduate Ken Keller recorded a 237 (82-75-80), and his second-round 75 included 11 pars and two birdies.

C.J. Hughes posted a three-round 253 (91-90-72). After struggling over the first two rounds, Hughes bounced back impressively with an even-par 72 in the final round that featured 12 pars and three birdies. The sophomore’s 72 was YSU’s best single-round mark of the tournament, and included a stretch where birdied or pared seven straight and 10 of 11 holes.

James Madison won the event by 24 strokes over runner-up Texas State with a three-round team score of 865 (296-282-287). JMU’s Nacho Montero earned medalist honors by eight strokes with a 13-under-par 203 (66-69-68). His first-round 66 was the lowest single-round score of the tournament.

The Penguins will return to competition March 24-26 for the Golden Horseshoe Intercollegiate hosted by William & Mary at Golden Horseshoe Country Club in Williamsburg, Va.

BASEBALL

Penguins-RedHawks game suspended

Oxford

The Youngstown State baseball team’s Saturday afternoon contest at Miami (Ohio) was suspended due to weather conditions in the bottom of the eighth inning with the RedHawks leading 5-2.

YSU took an early lead with a run in the top of the first inning, but Miami scored in each of the first four frames to grab the advantage. The Penguins plated their second run in the fifth inning to draw within three.

Heavy rain and lightning in the area caused a delay before it was decided that the contest would be suspended until Sunday. The game will resume in the bottom of the eighth inning tomorrow at 11 a.m. ET, and the scheduled doubleheader will follow to complete the four-game series.

Today’s action will be broadcast live at YSNLive.com.

SOFTBALL

Jarvis throws shutout for Penguins’ first win

CHARLESTON, S.C.

Freshman Addy Jarvis fired a two-hit shutout with nine strikeouts to lead the Youngstown State softball team to a 2-0 win over Bryant on Saturday afternoon at the Charleston Invitational.

The Penguins (1-8) lost to Rhode Island, 7-1, earlier in the day.

Against the Bulldogs, sophomore Yazmine Romero and Tatum Christy each collected two hits while senior Lexi Zappitelli and freshman Grace Cea each drove in a run.

In the top of the third, Romero reached on an a fielder’s choice, stole second, and advanced to third on a throwing error. Zappitelli plated Romero with a sacrifice fly to left field.

The Penguins added an insurance run in the top of the sixth when Elizabeth Birkbeck led off the inning with a double, Nikki Saibene sacrificed pinch-runner Sarah Bader to third and Cea laced a run-scoring single through the left side.

Against Rhode Island, junior Maddi Lusk belted her third home run of the season to account for the Penguins’ lone run.

Youngstown State takes on Marist at 12:15 p.m. and NC State at 2:30 p.m. today.

Staff report