YSU softball eliminated from Horizon League tournament

Staff report

Chicago

The Youngstown State softball team was eliminated from the Horizon League tournament Wednesday. The Penguins lost to Oakland and Northern Kentucky at Flames Field in Chicago.

The Penguins fell to the Golden Grizzlies 6-4 in 15 innings in the opening game of the tournament. YSU later lost to the Norse 6-0.

In the 15th inning against Oakland, Shannon Carr scored on a wild pitch by Elle Buffenbarger to put the Grizzlies up 5-4 and Brittney Miller followed with an RBI single.

Oakland took the lead twice in extra innings, but the Penguins found a way to tie the game.

Grace Cea’s RBI single in the 12 drove in Yazmine Romero and tied the game at 3.

Elizabeth Birkbeck hit two home runs for the Penguins — a two-run shot in the second and a game-tying solo homer in the 13th.

Romero went 4 for 8 with a run scored.

The Penguins recorded 17 hits, but stranded 18 runners on base.

Paige Geanangel took the loss. She allowed two runs on four hits and a walk in an inning pitched. YSU starter Addy Jarvis allowed four runs on 12 hits and four walks, striking out 12 in 13 innings.

YSU had to play Northern Kentucky in the losers bracket after its 4-hour 25-minute game.

The Norse scored three runs in the top of the first inning to jump out to an early lead.

The Penguins (25-29) were held to five hits in the final game. Lexi Zappitelli had two hits, including a double.

Geanangel took the loss, allowing six runs — four earned — on 10 hits and four walks. She struck out one in 61/3 innings of work.

Taylor Hoover had an RBI single and Kit Rocco delivered a two-run single down the left field line in the first inning.

Ava Lawson hit a solo home run for the Norse in the top of the second to put NKU up 4-0.

Northern Kentucky added two insurance runs in the sixth on RBI singles from Madi Mulder and Zahrya McFarland.

Taylor Ginther got the win. She allowed five hits and a walk with three strikeouts in a complete game.