Youngstown State University dropped the second game of its doubleheader against Oakland University 11-7 in nail-biter that took extra innings to decide. The Penguins fall to 11-15 on the year, but remain in first place in the Horizon League with a 4-1 record.
In the 7th inning, with Oakland trailing YSU 6-5, Oakland’s Jackie Kisman hit a 2-RBI single to give the Golden Grizzlies a 7-6 lead with only a half inning to play.
Sarah Dowd however, was not going to let her team go down without a bang. Leading off the inning, Dowd blasted a monster solo-homer over left-center field and into the McDonalds parking lot behind the field. The homerun brought the game to a tie at seven, and forced extra innings.
“She’s hit some pretty good shots out there and I knew as soon as she hit it, I knew it was gone, but I didn’t even realize it actually went over the net out their in left field,” head coach Brian Campbell said. “ She stepped up there and tied it in the bottom of the seventh to continue the game there. It was just a matter of going through there and I felt like we fought all the way through.”
The Penguins struggled offensively in extra innings, only registering two hits. Oakland on the other hand got the bats going in the 10th when Sara Cupp hit a two-run double. Two batters later TJ Bindus hit a two-run home run to seal up an 11-7 victory for the Golden Grizzlies.
Miranda Castiglione broke the school record for steals in a single season with tow steals on Wednesday night, giving her 17 on the season.
“I think that it’s a nice record for the young lady to have. I know that in the dugout there, she would trade that in for the ‘W’ in the second game. That’s the kind of kid she is, she probably doesn’t even know she’s broken the record,” Campbell said.
Pitcher Caitlyn Minney was credit with the loss for the Penguins. Minney came in relief of starter Kayla Haslett and allowed six runs in six innings. Minney drops to 4-6 on the season and 1-1 on the day, Minney started the first game of the doubleheader.
“I think Minney pitched well all day long, I really do. Even when we brought her back in the second game,” Campbell said. “ I couldn’t be more proud of how she came in and did a good job in the first one, and was able to come back and throw some innings the second game.”
The Penguins continue Horizon League play when they travel to Dayton, Ohio this weekend for a three game series against Wright State.
