GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – Green Bay was able to get its bats going early against Youngstown State on Saturday afternoon at Phoenix Field, but the team had trouble converting baserunners into runs in both games against the Penguins (22-24, 10-7), falling 7-0 in Game One and 10-2 in Game Two.
Youngstown State 7, Green Bay 0
The Penguins put a pair of runs on the board in the day's opening inning of play, immediately forcing the Phoenix (2-27, 1-14) to play from behind.
Green Bay had no trouble getting on base but struggled to bring runners around to score and stranded 11 on the day compared to Youngstown State's six.
The Phoenix received multi-hit games from Hailee Frey (2-for-4), Chyanne Onstad (2-for-4) and Jenna Smarzinski (2-for-3) with a total of six athletes notching hits for Green Bay. The Penguins totaled 11 hits in the game and both teams had two errors apiece.
Katie Rossman spent all seven innings in the circle for Green Bay, allowing five earned runs, 11 hits and picking up two strikeouts. Maddi Lusk picked up the win for the Penguins by pitching a complete game shutout, allowing nine hits and striking out four batters.
Youngstown State 10, Green Bay 2
The Phoenix defense held strong for the first three innings and kept the Penguins off the board. A seven-run fifth inning, however, took control of the game for Youngstown State and increased its lead to 9-1.
In danger of the game coming to an end in the fifth, the Phoenix got things rolling with an Onstad single to left field. Allie Taylor battled in her at-bat and was struck by a pitch, giving the Phoenix runners on first and second with only one out.
The next Phoenix plate appearance went to Olivia Magaldi and ended with an RBI single to right field, extending the game to the sixth inning to keep hopes alive for Green Bay.
Youngstown State went on to add another run in the sixth inning and keep the Phoenix off the board in the bottom of the inning as the Penguins would close out the second game of the day, 10-2.
Caitlyn Minney pitched all six innings for the Penguins in the victory, allowing five hits, only one earned run and picking up five strikeouts.
The Phoenix honored its three seniors before the games - Abby Brinkmeier, Hailee Frey and Allie Taylor – for their contributions to Green Bay over the past four years.
Green Bay and Youngstown State will be back in action to close out the three-game series tomorrow at Phoenix Field at 12 p.m.
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