Cincinnati, Ohio -- Cincinnati scored nine runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to overcome a four-run deficit and defeat the Youngstown State baseball team 15-5 on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.

The Penguins scored four runs in the first inning, and the Bearcats had just two hits entering the sixth off starter Aaron Swenson. The first nine UC hitters scored, and the big blow game on a game-tying grand slam from freshman Logan Jackson.

Youngstown State (1-3) outhit the Bearcats 14-13, but the Penguins stranded 11 base runners and committed three errors.

"Swenson gave us a good start, and we hit the ball well overall," YSU head coach Rich Pasquale said. "We just didn't hit well in the clutch, and they did. They got the big hits when they needed them."

Eric Marzec doubled and had two singles, and three other Penguins had two hits. Armani Johnson hit his first career home run in the first as part of YSU's four-run inning.

Jackson and Mikel Huston had three hits apiece and combined to drive in seven of Cincinnati's 15 runs.

After Derek Carr walked to lead off the game, Johnson got the Guins on the board with his two-run homer. Anthony Porter drove in Jacke Healey with a one-out single, and Joe Iacobucci laced a two-out single to right to plate Marzec.

Swenson allowed a leadoff double in the first, but he only allowed one more hit and struck out seven batters through five innings. The Penguin righty hit Chris Peters to start the inning, allowed a single to T.J. Jones and walked Kevin Johnson to set up Jackson's grand slam to left. The Bearcats went on to score five more runs on four more hits, two walks, an error and a hit batsman.

YSU got a run back in the seventh when Zac McFarland singled in Marzec to make the score 9-5, but the Bearcats got two unearned runs in the bottom half to go ahead 11-5. The Bearcats added four runs in the eighth for the final tally.

Brian Garman earned the win for UC, pitching four scoreless innings of relief after coming on in the third for starter Dan Jenson. Garman allowed three hits and a walk while striking out six batters.

The Penguins and Bearcats will play game two of the series Saturday at 4 p.m. Freshman Blake Aquadro is scheduled to make his first collegiate start for YSU, and Tyler Smith is set to take the hill for Cincinnati.