Dayton, Ohio -- Senior Milena Lacatena hit a two-run, pinch-hit home run in the top of the seventh inning to lift the Youngstown State softball team to a 9-8 victory to salvage a doubleheader split against Dayton on Sunday. The Penguins lost the first game, 7-3.

After snapping a four-game losing streak and improved to 9-7 on the season. Dayton improve to 5-11 overall.

Avrey Schumacher went 3-for-3 with an RBI while Nikki Saibene went 2-for-3 with two RBIs in the win. Alex DeLeon also went 2-for-3 and scored two runs.

Trailing 7-3 in the top of the fifth, the Penguins plated four runs to knot the game at 7-7. Senior Maddi Lusk led off the fifth with a solo home run to center field to cut the deficit to 7-4. After DeLeon singled and Jillian Jakse walked, Nikki Saibene laced a double down the right-field line to plate DeLeon and get YSU within two runs. A walk to Kenedy Vrable loaded the bases and Schumacher's single to right field plated Jakse. Conchetta tied the game with a sacrifice fly that scored pinch-runner Taylor Boeckmann to tie the game.

Dayton scored an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth to take an 8-7 lead preceding Lacatena's game-winning home run.

Youngstown State fell behind 2-0 after three innings before taking its first lead of the game with a three-run fourth inning. DeLeon led off the frame with a single to right field and scored on Jakse's double down the right-field line. Saibene's single to right field plated Jakse to tie the game and Hailey Roach's two-out single to right-center gave the Penguins a 3-2 lead.

Dayton regained the lead 7-3 after posting a five-run fourth inning.

Maddi Lusk picked up her fourth win of the season by throwing three inning of relief and allowing just one run and striking out three. YSU starting Sophie Howell allowed just two earned runs and the YSU defense committed five errors.

In game one, Grace Cea went 2-for-3 with two runs batted in as the Penguin dropped the opener, 7-3.

Youngstown State hosts Northern Kentucky in a doubleheader, Tuesday, March 23. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. at the YSU Softball Field.