Walk-Off Game One Win Highlights Doubleheader Split Against Oakland

Wednesday, April 1

3 pm

Youngstown State University

11-14, 4-0

Oakland

11-15, 2-2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Oakland	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	1
Youngstown State	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	10	2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Oakland	0	0	2	1	1	1	2	0	0	4	11	19	2
Youngstown State	0	0	4	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	7	12	2

Walk-Off Game One Win Highlights Doubleheader Split Against Oakland

4/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

The Youngstown State softball team won game one of a doubleheader 2-1 against Oakland by scoring with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. In game two, the Golden Grizzles scored four times in the 10th inning for an 11-7 victory.

In game one, Kayla Haslett's infield single scored Miranda Castiglione with the winning run from second base. In the second game, YSU led 6-5 in the seventh before Oakland took a 7-6 lead. Sarah Dowd forced extra innings with a long home run in the bottom of the inning, but the Golden Grizzlies struck for four runs in the 10th to earn the split.

With the results of the contests, the Penguins are now 11-15 overall and 4-1 in the Horizon League. Oakland is now 12-15 and 3-2.

After the teams scored early runs in the first game neither was able to take advantage of scoring opportunities until the bottom of the seventh.

Oakland stranded two runners on in the fifth and sixth innings. In the sixth, Brittney Moffatt speared a line drive by Morgan Muron with two outs and runners on second and third.

YSU left the bases loaded in the fourth and two on in the fifth.

Finally with two outs in the seventh the Penguins broke through for the game-winning run. Castiglione worked a walk and then stole second. On an 0-1 count, Haslett pinch hit for Cali Mikovich. Haslett worked a full count after coming on and hit a grounder to short, but she was able to beat the throw to first. A heads up Castiglione didn't break stride around third and slide in safely at home for the game-winning run ahead of the throw by Sarah Cupp.

Oakland took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first with two outs. Sarah Hartley singled and stole second. After Sarah Cupp walked, she and Hartley advance on a passed ball. TJ Bindus hit a chopper to short that Katie Smallcomb mishandled allowing Hartley to score the Golden Grizzlies' lone run of the contest.

In the second inning, Moffatt hit a sharp single to center and centerfielder Marina Salinas misplayed the hop allowing the ball to roll all the way to the wall. Moffatt ended up on third base following the error by Salinas. With two outs, a heady Moffatt raced home when a high pitch from Erin Kownacki got away from the catcher to tie the contest at one.

While game one was low scoring, game two featured 18 runs and 31 hits.

Oakland took a 2-0 lead in the third inning, but in the bottom half of the inning YSU took advantage of some breaks to go in front 4-2. Hannah Lucas struck out, but reached first on a dropped third strike. After a steal, Castiglione laced a double to cut the deficit in half. After Mikovich came home on a fielder's choice by Moffatt, Haslett ripped a two-out two-run single to give the Guins a 4-2 advantage.

Oakland eventually tied the contest in the fifth, but in the bottom of the inning, YSU went back in front when Dowd singled home Stevie Taylor. Oakland tied the contest in the sixth, but in the bottom of the inning, Kelly Thompson-Cappadocio doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Alexandria Gibson.

In the seventh, Minney had Oakland down to its final out, but Jackie Kinsman ripped a two-out double that plated a pair of runs for a 7-6 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Dowd led off with a monster home run to left center that landed in the parking lot of the McDonald's behind the field.

After neither team could score in the eighth and ninth innings, Oakland broke through for four runs in the top of the 10th to claim the split. The big blow was a two-run double by Cupp.

Caitlyn Minney picked up a win and a loss on Wednesday. Minney won game one allowing just five hits while striking out three. In game two, she came on in relief of Haslett and pitched six innings allowing six earned runs while striking out eight.

The Penguins continue Horizon League play on Friday when they visit Wright State to start a three-game series.