Clinton, S.C. – The Youngstown State softball team picked up a pair of wins on the first day of the Pinnacle PC Invitational on Friday at the Presbyterian College Softball Complex.
The Penguins defeated Valparaiso, 4-1, in the first game and followed that with a 4-1 eight-inning victory over Presbyterian in the nightcap.
Youngstown State improved to 6-1 on the year, and it marks the first time since 2003 that Youngstown State started the season with six wins in its first seven games.
In the opener, senior Jillian Jakse went 4-for-4 with a run scored and a run batted in. Ashlyn Bishop drove in two runs while Conchetta Rinaldi had a run-scoring double.
Senior Sophie Howell picked up her third win of the year while tossing a complete-game victory with 11 strikeouts.
In the nightcap, senior Sara Fessler belted a game-tying solo home run in the top of the seventh inning to force extra innings, and the Penguins scored three times in the eighth inning for the victory.
Lydia Wilkerson went 2-for-3 while Bishop went 2-for-2 with a run-scoring double and a run scored.
Devan Ryan threw scoreless innings of relief with two strikeouts to pick up her first victory of the year.
Youngstown State face Morehead State and Presbyterian at 12:15 p.m. and 4:45 p.m., respectively, on Saturday.
