The Youngstown State baseball team had opportunities late to rally, but a six-run head start by UT Rio Grande Valley proved to be too much to overcome as the Penguins lost the series opener 6-4 on Friday evening at UTRGV Baseball Stadium.

The Vaqueros scored twice in the first inning and extended their lead to 6-0 after a two-out grand slam in the fourth. Youngstown State scored four runs in the sixth to cut a big chunk off the deficit, but the Penguins couldn't finish the comeback in the final three innings.

Braeden O'Shaughnessy homered for Youngstown State and was one of three Penguins to finish with two hits. Andre Good and Dylan Swarmer also had two hits, and Seth Lucero, Padraig O'Shaughnessy and Steven D'Eusanio each had one.

Brandon Pimentel led UTRGV went 2-for-4, scored twice and hit the grand slam in the fourth inning from the number two spot in the lineup.

On the mound, YSU starter Jon Snyder was charged with five runs, one of which was unearned on three hits and three walks while striking out seven in 3.1 innings. Casey Marshalwitz got the final two outs in the fourth inning, but he surrendered the two-out grand slam to Pimentel that gave UTRGV its 6-0 lead. Lane Rhodes provided a boost in the middle frames by tossing three shutout frames, and Nathan Ball pitched a scoreless eighth for the Penguins.

UTRGV starter Kevin Stevens struck out nine of the 20 batters he faced over five innings, and he allowed four hits and two walks while improving to 2-0 this season. YSU scored its four runs in a third of an inning off Tyler Kisner, and Zach Tjelmeland and Ricky Gerik Jr. combined to hold the Penguins to one hit over the final 3.2 innings.

The Vaqueros scored two runs on two hits in the home half of the first inning to jump in front. Pimentel hit a one-out single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out RBI single by Freddy Rojas Jr. Later in the frame, RJ Ochoa drew a bases-loaded walk to give UTRGV an early 2-0 lead.

Snyder didn't allow another Vaquero hitter to reach base until the fourth when UTRGV pushed its lead to 6-0 with four runs on two hits in the bottom of the fourth inning. Diego Ramirez and Ochoa drew back-to-back walks to begin the inning, and Isaac Lopez reached on a bunt single to load the bases with nobody out. Snyder struck out Blake Burrows before giving way to Marshalwitz, who retired Bryan Sturges before allowing a two-out grand slam to Pimentel that pushed the UTRGV lead to 6-0.

The Penguins got back in the game with four runs on four hits in the top of the sixth inning. Braeden O'Shaughnessy led off the frame with a solo home run down the left field line. Padraig O'Shaughnessy followed with a walk and advanced to third on a double by D'Eusanio. Good then brought home Padraig O'Shaughnessy with an RBI single to second base before D'Eusanio scored on a balk. Swarmer then delivered an RBI double to left center to cut the UTRGV lead to 6-4.

The Penguins had the tying runner at the plate in each of the final three innings but couldn't get any runs across. YSU got back-to-back two-out walks in the seventh but were turned away after a pickoff ended the inning, and UTRGV reliever Ricky Gerik Jr. induced a big double play after the leadoff man reached in the eighth. In the ninth, Seth Lucero led off with a single before Gerik Jr. struck out the next two batters. Padraig O'Shaughnessy drew a two-out walk to extend the inning, and D'Eusanio grounded into a fielder's choice to end the game.

The Penguins and Vaqueros will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern. Both contests will be streamed live on ESPN+