Box Score Atlanta -- Youngstown State's Sean Lucas was thrown out at
the plate by left fielder Chris House to end the game in a 1-0
heartbreaking loss to No. 25 Georgia Tech on Saturday at Russ
Chandler Stadium.
YSU outhit Georgia Tech 10-7, and pitchers Adam Kalafos and
Chuck Schiffhauer combined to allow only an unearned run in the
second inning.
Redshirt freshman Joe Iacobucci led off the top of the ninth
with a single to right, but the Penguins had to rely on an error to
set up the final sequence. Anthony Munoz failed to get down a
sacrifice bunt, and Lucas ended up on second when Tech second
baseman Jeff Ussery threw wild to first trying to turn a double
play. Freshman David Leon then ripped a single to left that House
picked up and threw to Jason Haniger at the plate.
The Yellow Jackets needed some help to get their only run in the
second. Tony Plagman hit a one-out single to left and moved to
third on a wild pitch and passed ball. After Kalafos struck out
Haniger and walked Ussery, Jeff Rowland plated Plagman on an
infield single to first.
The Penguins also had runners in scoring position in the third
and sixth, but Georgia Tech starter Eddie Burns was able to work
out of the innings unscathed.
"This whole time we've focused on the process and not the
outcome," YSU head coach Rich Pasquale said. "Our guys were focused
on each inning and each pitch, and they just did a great job of
battling. We just need to get better each day, and we did that
today."
Kalafos allowed four hits, walked four and struck out five in
five innings as the hard-luck loser. Schiffhauer threw three
shutout innings of relief, allowing three hits and striking out
two.
"Our pitching was phenomenal today," Pasquale said. "Kalafos was
definitely a horse today. He and Schiffhauer both mixed up their
pitches very well."
Josh Page had a game-high three hits while Leon and Iacobucci
had two hits apiece.
Burns allowed six hits and struck out four to earn the win, and
closer Chris Hicks threw the ninth for his first save.
The Penguins and Yellow Jackets will play the series finale
Sunday at 1 p.m.