Mt. Pleasant, S.C. -- The Youngstown State baseball team got better pitching and played error-free defense on Sunday in a 6-2 loss at #19 College of Charleston on Sunday at Patriots Point.

The Cougars scored twice in the second and three times in the sixth, but the Penguins pitchers were able to keep CofC from blowing the game open. Jeremy Banks had two hits and scored twice for YSU.

Marty Gantt had two hits and drove in two runs for the Cougars, who improved to 7-0.

The Cougars hit two solo home runs in the second inning, but starter Robert Switka held CofC scoreless until the sixth. He left the game with two outs and runners on first and second, and the Cougars hit three straight RBI singles off of reliever Blake Aquadro.

The Penguins also did their damage with two outs in the seventh. Banks hit a two-out single to start the offense, and Drew Dosch walked. Greg Dissinger then hit an RBI single to left center to plate Banks.

Gantt hit a two-out RBI double in the eighth to put CofC up 6-1.

In the ninth, Banks hit a one-out double and scored on Phil Lipari's single.

"We played with a lot of energy today, and we were able to square-up a lot of baseballs," head coach Rich Pasquale said. "If we keep hitting the ball hard, it will star to fall."

"We got good pitching from Switka and Aquadro today to keep us in the game, and it was nice to see a clean game defensively. We will work hard Tuesday and Wednesday to prepare for Cincinnati."

Youngstown State will start a three-game series at Cincinnati on Friday at 4 p.m.