Boiling Springs, N.C. --Youngstown State senior Sophie Howell fired the first opening day no-hitter in program history to lead the Youngstown State softball team to two wins at the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldog Classic at the Brinkley Softball Stadium.
In the opener, Sophie Howell pitched a no-hitter in the Guins' 1-0 win over Delaware. In the second game, YSU scored four times in the fourth and went on to win 6-2 over ETSU.
Delaware Highlights
The Penguins took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Sara Fessler singled and later scored on a passed ball and Howell made sure that was enough the rest of the contest. She struck out six Hens becoming the seventh pitcher in school history to throw a no-hitter.
It was the ninth no-no in program history and the first since Elle Buffenbarger picked up a 6-1 win at Purdue Fort Wayne on April 30, 2022.
ETSU Highlights
Hailey Niederkohr went 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs while Elyssa Imler went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Taylor Truran went 2-for-3 and Kennedy Dean belted a home run.
Trailing 2-0 in the fourth inning, the Penguins got on the board when Dean belted the second home run of her career to jump start the inning.
Following Dean's blast, Ashlyn Bishop plated Reese Campbell-Schaller on a fielder's choice to tie the game. With two on and one out, Hailey Niederkohr doubled down the left-field line scoring Bishop and Imler. It was Dean's first home run since March 26, 2023 at Detroit Mercy.
Leading 4-2 in the sixth, Niederkohr's second double of the day plated Imler. In the seventh, Truran's single to left field scored Ellie Hardman.
Ryan pitched the first three innings while Freshman Maci Boggess picked up her first career victory tossing the final four innings. Boggess scattered five hits and struck out two in her YSU debut.
In the seventh, the Buccaneers threatened with two on and one out, but Boggess induced two groundouts to short to end the contest.
YSU registered nine hits in the contest.
On Saturday, the Penguins are scheduled to play ETSU at 3 p.m. and Gardner-Webb at 5 p.m.
