Colin Clark pitched his first career complete game, and Phillip Glasser hit his first career home run as the Youngstown State baseball team beat Abilene Christian 4-2 on Friday evening at Crutcher Scott Field.

Clark scattered five hits and struck out a career-high nine batters as the Penguins evened the three-game series with the Wildcats. The junior left-hander from Circleville, Ohio, did not walk a batter, and 72 of his 98 pitches were in the strike zone.

Youngstown State improved its record to 3-5, while Abilene Christian dropped to 6-4.

Glasser's first career round-tripper gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, and ACU's only two runs in the game came in the bottom of the first. Tommy Cruz hit a leadoff double, and he scored two batters later on Colton Eager's double. Eager then stole third and scored on a wild pitch to give the Wildcats the lead.

Clark surrendered a harmless two-out double in the second, and ACU had just two hits the rest of the game. He faced one batter over the minimum over the final seven innings, and one of the base-runners he allowed was erased immediately on a pickoff in the fourth. He recorded a strikeout in seven different innings.

While Clark was cruising on the mound, the Penguins gave him enough run support with a three-run fourth inning that accounted for the game's only runs over the final eight frames. Padraig O'Shaughnessy drew a leadoff walk, and Dominick Bucko followed with a single to get the go-ahead run on base. After a fielder's choice, freshman Turner Grau delivered the biggest hit of the game with a two-run double to left center that plated Bucko and Nick Caruso.

With YSU up 3-2, ACU reliever Johnnie Krawietz came on and allowed a bunt single to Lucas Nasonti that moved Grau to third. Blaze Glenn then gave the Penguins a two-run cushion when he reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Grau to score.

Glasser finished 2-for-5, and Nasonti had two singles for the Penguins, who outhit the Wildcats 8-5. Jeff Wehler, Steven D'Eusanio, Bucko and Grau also had hits. Eager finished 2-for-4 as the only Abilene Christian batter with two hits.

YSU scored all four of its runs on four hits and three walks against ACU starter Austin Ruesch, who was charged with the loss. Krawietz and Tyler Morgan did their part out of the bullpen by holding the Penguins scoreless over their final 17 outs, but Clark already had all the help he needed.

Youngstown State will try to win the series on Saturday in the finale against Abilene Christian. Collin Floyd will take the mound for the Penguins, and first pitch will be at 3:05 p.m. Eastern.