Youngstown, Ohio – Youngstown State recorded 12 hits and junior Sophie Howell fired four innings of scoreless relief to lift the Penguins to an 8-4 win over Cleveland State and split a doubleheader on Thursday at the Covelli Sports Complex.

The Penguins, who lost the opener, 3-1, improve to 21-24 overall and 9-9 in Horizon League play while the Vikings improve to 15-28 overall and 11-8 in the league.

In the nightcap, junior Elyssa Imler went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs while junior Sara Fessler, senior Conchetta Rinaldi, sophomore Taylor Truran, and senior Megan Turner also had two hits for the Penguins.

The Penguins jumped out to a 2-0 lead after posting five straight hits in the bottom of the second inning. Hailey Roach, Imler, and Megan Turner each ripped one-out singles to load the bases.

Fessler and junior Hailey Niederkohr each posted run-scoring singles to left field to give the Penguins the two-run lead.

Cleveland State scored four runs in the top of the third to take a 4-2 lead before the Penguins knotted the game with two runs in the bottom half of the frame.

After Avrey Shumacher and Truran singled, Roach reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second on a throwing error.

Imler beat out a single just past the second-base bag that plated Truran and Roach with the game-tying run.

The Penguins added another run in the fifth on Turner's single up the middle that scored pinch-runner Ashlyn Bishop, and plated three in the bottom of the sixth.

In the opener, Jillian Jakse led the Penguins with two hits while Hailey Niederkohr drove in the Penguins' lone run.

Cleveland State scored three runs in the top of the first inning and that was all the offense Vikings pitcher Melissa Holzopfel needed for the win.

Youngstown State and Cleveland State conclude the series, Saturday, April 29. First pitch in set for 2:30 p.m. at the Covelli Sports Complex.