Akron, Ohio - The Youngstown State baseball team scored two runs in the ninth inning and Akron left the tying run at third in the bottom of the inning as the Penguins beat the Zips 8-7 in their home opener on Tuesday afternoon at Lee R. Jackson Field.

YSU (5-11) held a 6-5 lead entering the bottom of the eighth before the Zips (10-11) went on top on a one-out two-RBI single by Matt Rembielak.

Jake Fryman opened the YSU ninth with an infield single against Akron closer Even Jensen. After a Jason Shirley pop out, Josh Fitch singles to center as pinch-runner Trey Bridis advanced to second. Joe King followed with a base knock that plated Bridis and allowed Fitch to reach third. Pinch hitter Shane Willoughby walked to load the bases with one out and a tie game. Alex Core pinch hit and walked to force in the go-ahead run. Akron was able to work out of the jam trailing just 8-7.

In the bottom of ninth, Ryan Krokos allowed Kris Simonton to reach with one out on hit by pitch. Simonton stole second and was sacrificed to third with two outs. Gerrad Rohan fly out to right field to end the game.

Krokos pitched three innings to pick up the win and even his record for the year at 2-2. He allowed four hits and had three strikeouts in a winning performance. Jared Wight started and pitched five innings for YSU. He struck out six Zips while allowing five earned runs.

It was the Guins' first win over UA since March 2012 and first win at Akron since April 4, 2006.

The Penguins jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Fryman had an RBI single before King had a two-out two-RBI single.

The Zips answered with three runs in the first and single runs in the second and third innings to go in front 5-3.

In the fifth Fryman hit a solo home run to trim the deficit to 5-4. In the sixth, Anthony Rohan and Frank Califano scored runs to put the Guins ahead 6-5.

For the game, Califano had two hits and scored twice, Fryman led the offensive onslaught with three hits, two runs and two RBI, Shirley, Fitch and King each had two hits each. 

YSU banged out 13 hits and the eight runs tied for the second-most it has scored all year.

The Penguins are set to play their first home game of the season on Wednesday against Pittsburgh. First pitch at Eastwood Field is set for 3 p.m.