WOMEN’S BOWLING

WOMEN’S BOWLING

Penguins knock off No. 1 McKendree

Smyrna, Tenn.

The Youngstown State bowling team earned its first-ever win over a No. 1 opponent as it beat McKendree on Friday at the Columbia 300 Music City Classic.

The Penguins ended the fifth game of their Baker match against the Bearcats by rolling eight consecutive strikes. That gave them a 235 score in game five, and they also shot 245 in game one as they beat McKendree 1,051-1,036. YSU was 0-5 all-time previously against teams at the top of the National Tenpin Coaches Association Top 25 Poll.

YSU also picked up a 933-734 victory over North Central College in the first match of the day, and the Penguins followed that with their historic win over McKendree. YSU bowled a 1,024 against the bye in its third match, and it dropped its final two matches to No. 6 Stephen F. Austin (1,026-968) and Prairie View A&M (989-936).

YSU totaled 4,912 pins in its five matches, which ranked 10th in the field of 29.

BASEBALL

YSU announces home promotions schedule

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown State baseball team will have a full slate of promotions for fans for its home schedule at Eastwood Field that begins Friday.

Each of the Penguins’ 22 home games in 2019 will have a promotional element or giveaway item.

Dunkin on Belmont Avenue is the presenting sponsor of Opening Day on Friday against Oakland. From 6-9 a.m. on March 22, fans can win free coffee for a year if they visit the Dunkin on Belmont Avenue.

The home opener will also be the first Friday contest, and all Friday games played at Eastwood Field will feature $1 hot dogs and $1 pop at the concession stands. Thursday games at Eastwood Field will feature $2 tickets and $2 beer.

Several games on the schedule will have event-based promotions. There will be a YSU Football Appreciation Game on March 23, a Pink Game on April 6, Military Appreciation Days on April 10 and May 1, a Lace Up for Pediatric Cancer game on April 20, YSU Employee Appreciation Day on April 23, Senior Day on May 4, Alumni Night and McDonald’s Family Night on May 14, Akron Children’s Hospital Kids Day on May 17 and Family Fun Day on May 18.

There will be a number of promotional giveaways tied in with game results. Hot Head Burritos will sponsor a Home Run Giveaway on March 24 and March 27, where if a YSU player hit a home run, fans will go home with a gift card to Hot Head Burritos. Similarly, if a YSU player hits a home run on April 5, April 7 or May 5, fans will receive a coupon for a free McDonald’s McDouble as part of the McDonald’s Home Run Giveaway. Another promotion centered around YSU’s offense will be the Rise Pies Free Pizza games on April 7 and May 16. If the Penguins score at least five runs in those games, fans will receive a coupon for a free cheese pizza at Rise Pies.

T-shirts will be thrown into the stands when YSU pitchers strike out opposing batters on “T-Shirts for Strikeouts” days that will occur on April 3, April 24 and May 5. Quaker Steak and Lube will sponsor a “Strikeout Inning” on April 3, April 10, April 19, May 4 and May 14 where if a YSU pitcher strikes out a batter in a specific inning, fans will receive a coupon for a free buy-one, get-one-free appetizer at Quaker Steak and Lube.

SOFTBALL

Penguins lose twice in North Carolina

WILMINGTON, N.C.

The Penguins dropped to 3-14 with two losses in the UNC Wilmington Tournament on Friday.

YSU fell to Canisius, 2-1, in eight innings and later fell to Eastern Kentucky, 5-2.

Elle Buffenbarger struck out eight and allowed just three hits in the first game, but took the loss. The game was scoreless through seven innings, but Canisius took the lead with two runs in the top of the eighth when Kara Paradowski delivered an RBI single and later stole home.

YSU got a run in the bottom of the eighth when Maddi Lusk singled home Dani Dadig.

Lexi Zappitelli doubled home run and Grace Cea singled her home in the Penguins’ two-run first inning in the second game, but YSU didn’t score again.

Addy Jarvis struck out seven, walked three and allowed just two earned runs in the defeat.

Staff reports