Softball Set For Five-Game Tourney at UNC-Greensboro This Weekend
2/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Youngstown State softball team (2-1) is back in action this weekend when it travels to Greensboro, N.C., for a five-game tournament hosted by UNC-Greensboro, Feb. 26-28.
The Penguins take on Lehigh, Friday, 11 a.m., Iona and Lehigh on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and Noon, respectively, and Iona and UNC-Greensboro on Sunday at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.
Up Next
Youngstown State starts its spring break with four games at the Lipscomb Tournament in Nashville, Tenn., on March 4-5.
Last Time Out
The Penguins got off to a solid start going 2-1 in the season's opening weekend on Feb. 13-14. Youngstown State defeated Toledo, 4-3, and UMass, 9-8, before falling to Charlotte, 7-1.
Castiglione Named Senior CLASS Award Candidate
Senior Miranda Castiglione is one of 30 of the top NCAA® softball student-athletes who excel both on and off the field that were selected as candidates for the 2016 Senior CLASS Award® in collegiate softball. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
Dowd Earned Player-of-the-Week Honors
Following the Penguins impressive 2-1 start, junior Sarah Dowd was named the Horizon League's Player of the Week on Feb. 15. Dowd batted .444 (4-for-9) with a triple, two home runs, six RBIs, a 1.333 slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .583. Against Toledo, Dowd went 3-for-3 with a triple and a walkoff two-run home run the bottom of the seventh inning. She also hit a grand slam in the 9-8 win over Massachusetts. It marked Dowd's third career grand slam and she is the only player in school history with more than one career grand slam.
Gibson Off To Good Start
Junior Alexandria Gibson is picking up where she left off in 2015. Gibson batted .444 with two doubles, a triple and twko runs scored during the Penguins' first three games. She went 3-for-4 with a double and a triple against UMass.
Minney Nearing Top 10 Strikeout List
Junior Caitlyn Minney is nearing the Youngstown State top 10 career strikeout list. Minney, who had 98 whiffs in 2015 - which are eighth on the single-season list, has 151 career strikeouts and needs 15 more to tie Hana Somogyi (2010-13) for 10th place.
Castiglione Now 10th in Hits, Stolen Base Record in Reach
Senior Miranda Castiglione moved into 10th place on the YSU career hit list with 158. She needs eight more to tie and nine more to surpass McKenzie Bedra (166, 2005-08) for ninth place. Castiglione also needs two more stolen base to tie the all-time record and three more to break the record of 46 set by Becky Brendza from 1990-93.
Dowd Reaches 20 Homers
Junior Sarah Dowd belted two home runs during the Penguins' opening weekend. She hit a walkoff, two-run home run against Toledo and a grand slam against UMass. She now ranks fifth all-time on the YSU career home run list and needs three more to move into third place all-time. She is also the only player in school history with three career grand slams.
