The Youngstown State softball team won both games of Saturday’s home doubleheader against Northern Kentucky to complete the series sweep of the Norse.

After beating the Norse 17-3 on Friday, the Penguins won 9-5 and 7-5 on Saturday. With the wins, Youngstown State improved to 17-12 overall and 5-1 in conference play, as the Penguins sit atop the Horizon League standings.

In game one, Youngstown State scored the first seven runs and fought off an NKU rally for a 9-5 victory. The Penguins’ nine runs came on 11 hits, which included a three-run homer by Emma Gilkerson in the third inning.

In the second game, NKU took an early lead in the top of the first inning, then regained the lead in the top of the second when YSU tied things up in the first.

However, the Penguins answered with four runs in the second to take a 5-3 lead. YSU then added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings.

Kennedy Kimball earned the win the circle for the Penguins, holding NKU to three runs on six hits in five innings. Isabella O’Brien recorded the final six outs for YSU and struck out three batters to record the save.

Youngstown State will play a pair of midweek doubleheaders next week, starting with two contests at Mercyhurst on Tuesday. The Penguins will then host Bowling Green for a doubleheader on Wednesday at 3 p.m.