Valparaiso scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to rally for a 10-7 victory over the Youngstown State baseball team on Friday afternoon at Emory G. Bauer Field.

The six-run inning came right after the Penguins plated four runs in the top of the inning to go ahead 5-4. YSU scored twice in the seventh for the final tally.

Jason Shirley hit a two-run single in the sixth and scored the go-ahead run on Phil Lipari's sacrifice fly. Brent Gillespie doubled twice, and Alex Larivee and Matt Sullivan also had two hits apiece.

Valparaiso scored twice in the first inning when Spencer Mahoney singled and scored on an error and Chris Manning scored on a ground out. The Crusaders extended their lead to 3-0 in the third when Manning scored on Andy Burns's infield single.

The Penguins got on the board in the top of the fifth when Shane Willoughby walked and scored on Larivee's single, but Valpo answered with a run in the bottom half to go back on top by three.

Sullivan led off the sixth with a single, and Mike Accardi walked as starter Cole Webb's final batter. Kris Moules was hit by a pitch to load the bases with nobody out, and Sullivan scored on a wild pitch. Shirley's two-run single followed two batters later, and he moved all the way to third on a throwing error on a pickoff play. Lipari then plated him with a sacrifice fly to center, which gave YSU a 5-4 lead.

Bryce Hara immediately tied the score with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the sixth, and the Crusaders went on to score six runs in the inning. Mark Johnson doubled in Jake Hanson with the go-ahead run, and the final four runs of the frame scored after there were two outs.

The Penguins' two runs in the seventh came when Sullivan singled in Gillespie and when Jake Ross scored on a double play. Valpo's bullpen retired YSU in order in the eighth and ninth innings.

Hara finished 2-for-4 for Valpo, and the other eight starters each had one hit.

YSU starter Brendon Shoemake allowed three runs, two of which were earned, on four hits and three walks in 3.1 innings before handing the ball over to the bullpen. Anthony Konders was charged with the loss, surrendering four runs on three hits in 1.2 innings. Ryan Smith did not allow a run in 2.1 innings.

The Penguins and Crusaders will play game two of their series on Saturday at 1 p.m. Eastern.