Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Sophomore Avrey Schumacher's run-scoring single up the middle broke a 3-3 tie and lifted the Youngstown State softball team to a 4-3 win over Northern Kentucky in game two of a doubleheader sweep on Tuesday afternoon at the YSU Softball Field. The Penguins also won game one, 4-2.
With the pair of wins, Youngstown State improves to 11-7 overall and 4-2 in Horizon League play while the Norse fall to 4-14 overall and 3-7 in the league.
Yazmine Romero and Grace Cea, who both had two hits, each singled to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning in a 3-3 tie. Schumacher slammed the first pitch she saw up the middle to plate Romero from second with the go-ahead run.
Senior Elle Buffenbarger, who struck out 10 and allowed just three hits, retired the side in order in the top of the seventh to record her fourth victory of the year.
The Penguins took a 3-0 lead with a three-run second inning. Freshman Hailey Niederkohr two-out bases loaded triple to left-center field scored Romero, who single, Schumacher and Conchetta Rinaldi.
The Norse tied the game in the top of the sixth on a three-run home run by Ava Lawson and set up Schumacher's heroics in the bottom half of the inning.
In the opener, the Penguins used another big-inning to secure the victory. Youngstown State scored four runs in the bottom of the second and senior Maddi Lusk fanned eight for her fifth win of the year.
After a walk to Schumacher and singles by Rinaldi and Niederkorh loaded the bases, Lusk drove in Schumacher on a fielder's choice to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead. Alex DeLeon bases-loaded single off the fence in deep left-center field plated Rinaldi and Niederkohr scored on Jillian Jakse's sacrifice fly to right field.
Lusk allowed just two hits over the next three innings before the Norse got on the board in the top of the sixth inning with a two-run single by Madi Mulder.
The Norse threatened in the top half of the seventh with the first to batters reaching base. After a strikeout, Maddie Lacer was thrown out after over running second base on Hailey Whitmer's single to right field. Lusk struck out Megan Lenhart for the game's final out.
Youngstown State continues its homestand with a four-game Horizon League series against Purdue Fort Wayne, March 26-27. First pitch on Friday is slated for 2 p.m.
