May 8, 2009 | Box Score

    Pendleton, Ind. -- Youngstown State put runners in scoring position in every inning, but the Penguins went 2-for-14 in those opportunities while Valparaiso capitalized on its scoring chances to eliminate YSU from the 2009 Horizon League Softball Championship with a 10-2 decision on Friday morning at Legends Field.

    The Penguins conclude the season with an 8-42 overall record while the Crusaders improve to 25-23 and face Loyola at 4 p.m. in an elimination game.

    Freshman Haley Thomas, who went 5-for-6 in the tournament, went 3-for-3 with a double and scored both Penguins' runs.

    Freshman Jordan Ingalls was 2-for-3 with a run-scoring single and junior Autumn Grove also went 2-for-3.

    Thomas led off the game with a single and scoring on Ingalls two-out single to left field.

    Valpo answered with two runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead and Jill Jacobson's two-run blast in the bottom of the second pushed the Crusaders' edge to 4-1.

    In the top of the third, Thomas led of with a double to left field but was stranded when Jacobson robbed Ingalls of a two-run home run to end the Guins' scoring threat.

    Valpo tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-1 lead.

    In the top of the fifth, Thomas began with a single up the middle and scored on Kim Klonowski's double to left field.

    Ingalls singled up the middle and Kristen Philen reached on an error to load the bases.

    Grove's line shot up the middle was snagged by Valpo pitcher Alex Lagesse and Ashley Conger grounded out to leave the bases loaded.

    Valpo added three more runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning to invoke the eight-run mercy rule.