April 21, 2009 | Game One | Game Two

    Canfield, Ohio -- The Youngstown State softball team scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull out a 2-1 victory over Akron in the first game of a doubleheader at McCune Park. The Penguins lost the nightcap, 13-7.

    The Penguins improve to 7-31 while the Zips move to 27-19.

    Kim Klonowski led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a double before pinch runner Melanie Conklin scored the game-winner. Senior Allyse Ledford homered in the victory.

    Junior Cheryl Cale picked up her sixth victory firing a three-hit complete game.

    In the nightcap, junior Autumn Grove went 3-for-4 and tied two school single-game records with two home runs and six runs batted in.

    Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth, Grove led off the inning with a solo home run - her second of the year - to cut the deficit to 3-1.

    After the Zips scored six runs in the top of the sixth to extend their lead to 9-1, Grove belted a three-run home run in the bottom half of the frame to bring the Guins within five, 9-4.

    Freshman Kristen Philen singled to left field and sophomore Ashley Conger reached on an error to set up Grove's third home run of the season.

    Akron added four more runs in the top of the seventh to balloon its lead to 13-4 before the Penguins scored three runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame.

    Sophomore Kristina Rendle singled through the left side and moved to third after two wild pitches.

    Sophomore Kim Klonowski doubled to left field to plate Rendle to push the score to 13-5.

    A Jordan Igalls walk and a single by Conger loaded the bases prior to a two-run single by Grove ended the scoring.

    The Penguins visit Saint Francis (Pa.), Thursday, April 23, at 3 p.m. in Loretto, Pa.