Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
Niles, Ohio -- Youngstown State senior Jeremy Banks
collected his 200th career hit, and junior Blake Aquadro threw
a complete game shutout to lead the Penguins to a doubleheader
sweep of UIC on Sunday afternoon at Eastwood Field.
Marcus
Heath had five RBIs to spark YSU's 9-7 win in game one, and
both Banks and Jason Shirley were
4-for-4 in game two as YSU won 9-0. Aquadro scattered eight hits
and walked three in what was YSU's first nine-inning complete game
shutout since 2004 by Chris Dennis against UIC. The Penguins' last
shutout was a seven-inning win by Andy Svitak on May 15, 2005
versus Milwaukee.
YSU was consistent at the plate all afternoon, posting hits in
13 of its 16 innings. It was YSU's first series sweep of UIC in
school history.
In game one, Heath hit a three-run homer in the first and a
two-run single as part of a three-run fifth inning as the Penguins
led 6-1. YSU added three more runs in the sixth on a squeeze and a
throwing error to go ahead 9-1.
UIC capitalized on errors to score three runs in both the
seventh and eighth innings to cut the margin to two runs. Four of
the six runs scored in those innings were unearned. Nic Manuppelli got
a ground out to strand two runners in the eighth and worked around
a one-out walk in the ninth to preserve the win.
YSU starter Ryan Krokos battled
high pitch counts through 4 1-3 innings in a no decision. Kevin McCulloh
struck out five and allowed one earned run in 2 2-3 innings to earn
the victory. UIC starter Brian Evak allowed six runs on six hits
and three walks in 4 2-3 innings in the loss.
In game two, Leon gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead in the second
inning with a two-out single that scored Shirley. YSU then batted
around in both the fourth and fifth innings and held an 8-0 lead
through five. All three of the Penguins' runs in the fourth were
unearned, and Banks and Phil Lipari both had
two-run singles in the four-run fifth.
Shirley singled home David Saluga in the
eighth for the final tally.
Flames starter Tim Tarter allowed four runs on nine hits in 3
2-3 innings before handing the ball off to the bullpen.
Banks and Shirley both had five hits on the day, and Drew Dosch, Craig Goubeaux and
Heath all had three hits apiece. Banks, a native of Steubenville,
Ohio, became one of 11 players in school history to post 200 career
hits. One of the other 10 is his brother Justin, who had 249
between 2003 and 2006.
All nine of YSU's runs in game two and six of its nine in game
one came after there were two outs.
Youngstown State will remain home to play Pittsburgh on
Wednesday at 3 p.m.
