Youngstown, Ohio – The Youngstown State softball team has won at least 30 games for the third time in the last four seasons after sweeping a doubleheader from Bowling Green, 4-2, 9-5, on Wednesday afternoon at the Covelli Sports Complex.
The Penguins improve to 31-14 overall, and it marks the seventh time in program history YSU has won at least 30 games in a year. Bowling Green falls to 5-32.
Youngstown State used late-inning rallies in both contests to secure the victories. The Penguins scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning in game one, and they scored five in the bottom of the sixth of the nightcap.
In the opener, Sara Fessler clubbed her eighth home run of the year in the bottom of the fourth inning to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead.
After the Falcons knotted the game in the top of the sixth, the Penguins answered with a three-run inning to regain the advantage.
Jillian Jakse started the two-out rally with single to right field and advanced to second on an error. Kennedy Dean followed with single and stole second before Elyssa Imler's double to center field plated both runners. Imler scored the Penguins' third run of the inning on a Falcons throwing error.
Bowling Green added another run in the top of the seventh before Devan Ryan closed the door for her seventh win of the year.
Senior Sophie Howell struck out seven and allowed just one hit through five innings but took a no decision.
Jakse and Imler each had two hits and drove in two runs to lead the Penguins while Fessler added a pair of hits and drove in a run. Senior Hailey Niederkohr also drove in two runs for the Penguins.
The Falcons scored one in the first and two more in the second and held a 3-0 lead through three-and-a-half innings.
Dean and Imler each singled to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning. After a sacrifice bunt by Conchetta Rinaldi advanced the runners, Autumn Behlke walked to load the bases.
Niederkohr ripped a single up the middle to score pinch-runner Sydney Payne and Imler, and Behlke advanced to third.
Traylor Truran's ground out to second base plated Behlke with the tying run, and Fessler gave the Penguins a 4-3 lead with a single to left that scored Niederkohr.
The Falcons quickly answered with two runs in the top of the fifth to regain a 5-4 lead.
Lydia Wilkerson's two-out single in the bottom of the sixth plated Ashlyn Bishop and tied the game. A two-run single by Jakse extended the Penguins lead to 7-5, and a two-run double by Imler pushed the Penguins lead to four runs.
Freshman Autumn Behlke struck out three in two scoreless innings to pick up her fourth win of the year.
Youngstown State returns to action against Cleveland State, Thursday, April 25. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. in Cleveland, Ohio.
