By Zachary Flesch / The Jambar
The Youngstown State University softball team traveled to Rock Hill, South Carolina, for the Winthrop Garnet & Gold Tournament on Feb. 21. The Penguins had a doubleheader against Brown University in Game One and St. John’s University in Game Two.
The Penguins dropped their opener to Brown 13-2, while St. Johns topped Youngstown State 9-1. Sophomore Lydia Wilkerson hit a two-run home run for the first contest against the Bears, and freshman Ayla Ray recorded base hits in both contests.
Freshman Autumn Boyd pitched the first three innings against Brown and allowed four runs — two of which were earned — while striking out two batters.
In Game Two against the Red Storm, Ray had an infield single with two outs and scored after an error and two wild pitches. That marked the Penguins’ only run of the game, as St. John’s scored nine straight runs over six innings.
In Game Two, sophomore Maci Boggess went the distance for the Penguins in the circle. St. John’s junior Ana Serafinko struck out 17 batters in a complete game.
In addition to the doubleheader, the Penguins fell 13-8 to Le Moyne College on Feb. 22 in Game One. Youngstown State also dropped a 6-3 contest against Winthrop University.
In the opener, the Penguins cranked out 12 hits led by Wilkerson’s three-for-four performance.
Le Moyne scored three runs in the first inning and seven in the second to take a 10-0 lead.
Youngstown State answered with eight runs in the bottom of the third to get within two runs. Le Moyne added a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth to seal the victory.
Against Winthrop, the Eagles scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to erase a 2-0 lead by Youngstown State. Senior Taylor Truran and redshirt junior Bree Kohler each drove in runs for the Penguins.
In the final game of the tournament, the Penguins lost to Brown 10-5. Sophomore Macy Littler went two-for-three and scored three times. Ray also recorded two hits and drove in two runs.
The softball team is back in action at 10 a.m. Feb. 28 in Rock Hill to take on St. Bonaventure University.
The team will remain in South Carolina until March 14 when the Penguins return to the YSU Softball Complex against Cleveland State University.