Senior Haley Thomas became Youngstown State’s all-time runs leader as the Penguins softball team defeated, 7-6, and tied, 5-5, Akron in a doubleheader at Lee Jackson Field.  Thomas scored the record-breaking run when she belted a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to give the Penguins a 6-5 advantage.

Thomas’ blast etched her name in the YSU record books, but junior Sarah Gabel‘s two-out, bases-clearing triple in the top of the third capped a four-run inning and put the Guins ahead 4-3.  Gable went 3-for-4 with a triple, double and single and drove in three runs to lead the Penguins’ 11-hit arsenal.

Sophomore Sarah Ingalls also collected three hits with a double and scored twice for the Penguins, who improved to 16-6-1.

The Zips took a 5-4 lead after plating two runs in the bottom of the third inning before Thomas’ home run in the sixth.

The Guins added an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Sarah Ingalls drove in Samantha Snodgrass with two outs to put YSU up 7-5. Ingalls clutch hit proved to be the difference after Akron’s Allison Dorr belted a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the seventh.

Freshman Kayla Haslett, though, relieved winner Casey Crozier (7-3) and shut down the Zips to collect her first career save.

Game two was called due to darkness after six innings with the game tied at 5-5.