Box Score Lexington, Va. -- Jeremy Banks hit two home
runs, and the Youngstown State baseball team scored nine times in
the final two innings to beat VMI 10-2 on Sunday at Gray-Minor
Stadium.
Banks and Marcus Heath both drove in four runs, and the Penguins
played well in all facets of the game. They had 13 hits, did not
commit an error and got strong pitching from Pat Shedlock and Nic
Manuppelli.
Both of Banks' two hits on the day left the park, and Heath also
had two hits for YSU, which enjoyed its first win of the season.
Five total Penguins had two hits apiece.
Shedlock allowed two runs on four hits and three walks in six
innings while striking out four to keep the Penguins close in what
was originally a pitchers' duel. Manuppelli allowed just one hit
and one walk while fanning two in three innings to earn the
win.
"Shedlock did an outstanding job today of giving us what we
needed," YSU head coach Rich Pasquale said. "Manuppelli was awesome
after being out for a while."
"Words cannot describe what JB (Banks) does for this team,"
Pasquale added. "He is a special person. His leadership on and off
the field is second to none."
Banks hit a two-out solo homer in the first to give YSU a 1-0
lead, and that stood until VMI scored twice in the third. Nick
Dwyer and Gary LeClair started the inning with back-to-back doubles
to knot the game, and LeClair scored on a ground out to give VMI a
2-1 lead.
Shedlock allowed just a walk and an infield single over the next
three innings, and he struck out the side in the sixth to end a
solid day.
Manuppelli worked around a one-out double in the seventh to keep
the score 2-1, and the Penguins erupted for their largest outburst
of the season with a five-run eighth. Jason Shirley led off with a
single to left center, and Drew Dosch drew a five-pitch walk to set
the stage for Banks. Reliever Michael Devine came in to pitch, and
Banks greeted him with a three-run homer to left on a 1-1 pitch to
put the Penguins up 4-2. Marcus Heath then doubled in Craig
Goubeaux three batters later, and Heath scored on a Kevin Hix RBI
single.
In the ninth, Goubeaux drew a bases-loaded walk, and Heath blew
the game open with a three-run double that plated Goubeaux, Banks
and Dosch.
Travis Thomas took the loss for VMI, allowing two runs in two
innings of relief. Each of VMI's six pitchers allowed at least one
run.
YSU will remain in Virginia to play at Norfolk State on Tuesday
at 1 p.m.