Youngstown -- The Youngstown State baseball team will look to continue its strong play in Horizon League contests this weekend when it hosts Milwaukee in a three-game series at Eastwood Field. Game one will be Friday at 3 p.m., and the teams will play a doubleheader Saturday starting at noon.
    Both the Penguins and Panthers have won five of their last six league games, all of which have been in Youngstown or Milwaukee. YSU swept Butler two weeks ago and took two of three from Cleveland State last week. Milwaukee has gone on its run against the top two teams - UIC and Wright State - when the series began. The Panthers took two games from the league-leading Flames two weeks ago and swept the Raiders last weekend, knocking them from second to fifth in the league standings.
    Game one starters Aaron Swenson and Brad Lusti have both been dominant in their last two starts, and YSU's ERA in Horizon League games is 2.89 - almost a run lower than UWM's (3.76). YSU won four of five against Milwaukee in 2008.

Right Off The Bat

• YSU's 2.89 ERA in Horizon League games ranks second in the conference. The Penguins have a 9.26 ERA in non-conference contests.
• Aaron Swenson has struck out 21 batters in his last 18 innings.
• YSU won four out of five games against UWM last season, including a doubleheader sweep at both Eastwood Field and Miller Park, the home of the Milwaukee Brewers.
• YSU averaged 8.2 runs against the Panthers in 2008.
• Eight of YSU's last 18 games have been decided by one run. The Penguins have gone 3-5 in those contests.