Softball Heads South For Four Games at North Carolina A&T Tournament
2/23/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Youngstown State softball team (2-1) gears up for another busy weekend with four games in three days at the North Carolina A&T Tournament, Feb. 24-26, in Greensboro, N.C.
The Guins open up the tournament against Utah Valley, Friday, Feb. 24, at 9 a.m. and face North Carolina A&T at 1 p.m.
On Saturday, the Guins take on Marist at 1 p.m. and square off against Western Carolina on Sunday at 9 a.m.
Last Weekend
The Guins opened up the season with a 2-1 record at the Spartan Invitational hosted by USC-Upstate. The Guins knocked off UNC-Wilmington, 6-1, and Howard, 15-7, but dropped a 4-0 decision to USC-Upstate.
Up Next
The Guins will be off for nearly two weeks before heading to the Sunshine State for a 10-game tour at the Rebel Games, March 11-16,in Kissimmee, Fla. At the Rebel Games, the Guins will take on Manhattan, Bucknell (twice), Saint Peter's (N.J.), Rider, Lafayette, Fairfield, Army, Columbia and Fairleigh Dickinson.
Home Opener Set For March 21
After spending a week in Florida, the Guins are slated to host Niagara in the 2012 home opener, Wednesday, March 21, at 3 p.m. at McCune Park.
Crozier, Rumph Sweep Horizon League Weekly Awards
Junior catcher Vicky Rumph (Mount Forest, Ontario, Canada) has been named Horizon League Softball Player of the Week, while Penguins sophomore Casey Crozier (Valparaiso, Ind.) has earned Horizon League Softball Pitcher of the Week honors, for the week of Feb. 13-19.
The battery helped Youngstown State turn in a 2-1 record as the Penguins opened the season at the Spartan Invitational in Spartanburg, S.C. Rumph hit .556 in the three games, turning in an OPS of 1.600 as the Penguins collected wins over UNC-Wilmington and Howard. Crozier appeared in two games on the rubber, winning both.
Going 5-for-9 across the three games, collecting hits in YSU's 6-1 win against UNC-Wilmington and in a 4-0 shutout at the hands of USC-Upstate. The junior saved her finest game for YSU's 15-7 victory over Howard, turning in a 3-for-3 effort with a home run, double and three runs scored.
Crozier started only one game in the tournament, hurling a complete game two-hitter against UNC-Wilmington. The right-hander notched eight of her 10 strikeouts in the tournament in that contest. Entering in the third inning against Howard, Crozier collected the win with three innings of work. The sophomore allowed just one unearned run on the week, allowing opponents to hit just .135.
Jordan Ingalls Starts Strong
Senior Jordan Ingalls opened the 2012 campaign on a strong note. Ingalls batted .545 with three runs batted in and scored a run. Ingalls now has 164 career hits and needs just five more to move into a tie for fifth place on the career list.
Haley's Comet
Senior Haley Thomas is continuing to inch closer to the YSU all-time runs mark. Thomas currently ranks second all-time with 108 and needs just 19 more to break the record of 126 held by Associate Head Coach Tiffany Patteson (2003-06).
Sarah Ingalls Hits First Career Homer
Sophomore Sarah Ingalls began the season on a hot note batting .500 during the first three games going 4-for-8 with two runs scored and three runs batted in. Ingalls also belted her first career home run - a solo shot - against Howard.
Rumph, Thomas Nearing Home Run Top Five
Senior Haley Thomas and junior Vicky Rumph are both nearing the top five in career home runs. Thomas has 16 career homers and needs one more to move into a tie for fifth place. Meanwhile, Rumph has 13 career round trippers. Thomas has led the Guins in homers last season with seven, while Thomas and Rumph tied for the team lead with eight in 2010.
