Youngstown, Ohio – Youngstown State tied a school record for most runs scored in a Horizon League game in its 17-3 victory over Northern Kentucky on Friday afternoon at the Covelli Sports Complex.
The 17 runs match the record set against UIC in 2015 and tied against Green Bay in 2016.
With the win, the Penguins improve 15-12 overall and 3-1 in Horizon League action while the Norse fall to 13-15 overall and 2-2 in league play.
Five of Youngstown State's 14 hits went for extra bases, including two triples, two doubles and a grand slam.
Senior Kennedy Dean went 3-for-4 with a double, triple and six runs batted in while senior Emma Gilkerson was 2-for-3 with a grand slam. Junior Selah Moyer had three hits, including a double, and four RBIs and Ayla Ray posted three hits, including a triple, and drove in two runs.
Freshman Kennedy Kimball struck out three and did not allow an earned run in a complete-game four-hitter.
The Penguins scored four runs in the first, nine in the second and four more in the fourth to invoke the run-rule.
Youngstown State sent nine batters to the plate in the first inning to jump out to a 4-0 lead. Bella Meyer led off the game with a single, and Gilkerson singled and Tai Turner walked to load the bases. Dean launched a double on a 1-2 pitch off the left-center field fence to clear the bases to put the Penguins up, 3-0. Ray followed with a triple to right-center to bring around Dean with the Penguins' fourth run.
The Norse capitalized on two YSU errors and scored three unearned runs in the top of the third to cut the Penguins to 4-3.
In the bottom half of the frame, the Penguins sent 14 batters to the plate and scored nine times to extend the lead to 13-3. Moyer began the scoring with a bases-clearing double to center field, and after back-to-back walks to load the bases, Lydia Wilkerson walked to plate Moyer. Four pitches later, Gilkerson belted a towering grand slam just inside the left-field foul pole. Ray capped the third-inning scoring with a single that scored Tai Turner, who walked for the second time in the inning.
Dean cleared the bases for the second time slicing a bases-loaded triple down the right-field line driving in Gilkerson, Macy Littler and Meyer. After Leila Staszak walked putting runners on the corners, Moyer ripped a single through the right side to close out the game's scoring.
Youngstown State hosts Northern Kentucky in a doubleheader, Saturday, March 28. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m. at the Covelli Sports Complex.
