By Zachary Flesch / The Jambar
The road trip to New York resulted in a split-series for the Youngstown State University women’s softball team against St. Bonaventure University in a doubleheader March 24 at Joyce Field.
The Penguins dropped the first game with a score of 5-6 when they came up short of a comeback in the top of the seventh inning.
Controlling the mound for the Penguins was sophomore Isabella O’Brien, who pitched a little over three innings and gave up two earned runs.
In the top of the second inning, junior Selah Moyer had two RBIs with a double to drive in senior Bree Kohler.
In the top of the sixth inning, Moyer doubled yet again to drive in another pair of runs and move the score to 4-5.
Fast forward to the top of the seventh inning, junior Lydia Wilkerson scored on a passed ball, which made the score 5-6. The Penguins fell short after not collecting the game-tying run.
Game Two of the doubleheader flipped completely as Youngstown State collected a 9-1 victory over the Bonnies.
Sophomore Kelsey Ogin tossed a complete game, which helped collect the win for the Penguins.
Freshman Leila Staszak broke the scoreless tie in the top of the second inning, with three RBIs and a double, while the Penguins plated six runs in the inning.
Senior Kennedy Dean belted her fourth home run of the year, which propelled the Penguins offensive showing.
Following the series, the Penguins returned home to face Northern Kentucky University on March 27-28, in record-breaking fashion.
In Game One, Youngstown State set a program record for most runs scored in a Horizon League game with the 17-3 victory.
Dean contributed six RBIs, and senior Emma Gilkerson was 2-3 with a grand slam.
Freshman Kennedy Kimball struck out three batters and did not allow an earned run as she pitched the whole game, only giving up four hits. The second day of the series was just as productive as the ’Guins swept the doubleheader.
Game One resulted in a 9-5 win for the Penguins. After an offense-heavy game, Youngstown State tallied eleven total hits, with five extra-base hits.
Ogin earned the victory on the mound, as she allowed five runs on six hits in a little over five innings.
Gilkerson finished with three hits in four runs, four RBIs and two runs scored and Wilkerson was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
Game Two was dominated with a score of 7-5 controlled by pitching. Kimball earned the win on the bump for the Penguins and held NKU to three runs on six hits in five innings.
The team returns to play at 3 p.m. April 3 against Robert Morris University, and looks to extend its winning streak. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
