Youngstown State vs. Illinois, Wake Forest
Weekend Preview
- The Youngstown State baseball team will begin the 69th season in program history on Friday when it plays Illinois at noon in a neutral-site contest at David F. Couch Ballpark in Winston-Salem, N.C.
- The Penguins will proceed to play No. 6 Wake Forest on Friday at 4 p.m. before facing Illinois for the second time on Saturday at noon. YSU will conclude the weekend by playing Wake Forest for the second time on Sunday at 8:30 a.m.
- Live audio for all four games on opening weekend will be available at YSNLive.com. YSU's contest against Wake Forest on Friday at 4 p.m. will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra. Live stats will be available through links on YSUsports.com. Fans can also follow @YSUBaseball on Twitter for live updates.
- Fifth-year senior right-hander Travis Perry will take the mound for the Penguins in the season opener on Friday while sophomore right-hander Brandon Mikos is scheduled to start against Wake Forest on Friday. Junior right-hander Nick Perez is slated to start against Illinois on Saturday while sophomore right-hander Lane Rhodes will take the ball for Sunday's matchup with Wake Forest.
- The Penguins will be facing the Fighting Illini for the first time in program history, and they will be playing the Demon Deacons for the first time since 2013. YSU fell 8-2 at Wake Forest on Feb. 22, 2013, before suffering a 6-5 setback two days later in the most recent meeting.
- Senior right-hander Patrick Gumto and senior infielder Braeden O'Shaughnessy were each named to Perfect Game's Horizon League Preseason All-Conference Team in the website's 2023 conference preview. O'Shaughnessy is coming off a stellar 2022 season that saw him earn First-Team All-Horizon League honors. The Poland, Ohio, native became just the second YSU infielder to earn First-Team All-Horizon League honors since Drew Dosch in 2013.
- Senior infielder Braeden O'Shaughnessy, senior outfielder Turner Grau, freshman left-hander Braden Gebhardt and freshman infielder Matt Thompson each earned preseason recognition from D1Baseball.com when the website released its 2023 Horizon League preview. O'Shaughnessy (No. 4) and Grau (No. 6) were each ranked among the website's top-10 MLB Draft prospects for 2023 while Gebhardt and Thompson were listed as top-five impact freshmen in the conference.
- Senior infielder Steven D'Eusanio, senior right-hander Patrick Gumto, senior infielder Braeden O'Shaughnessy and senior first baseman Padraig O'Shaughnessy were each named Top Players to Watch in the Horizon League by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper in its 2023 preview edition.
- Youngstown State was picked to finish third in the Horizon League by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and fifth by D1Baseball.com. Both Collegiate Baseball and D1Baseball.com tabbed Wright State, the defending regular season and tournament champion, as the preseason favorite in the conference. Oakland was picked to finish second in both preseason polls.
Previewing Illinois, Wake Forest
A Win on Friday vs. Illinois Would...
- Be YSU's first win in a season opener since 2018.
- Give YSU its second win over a Big Ten opponent in as many seasons.
- Give YSU its second win over a Big Ten opponet since 1996.
- Be the 336th in head coach Dan Bertolini's career and his 107th at Youngstown State.
Scouting The Fighting Illini
- Illinois finished with a 31-22 overall record and a 17-7 mark in Big Ten play in 2022. Junior shortshop Branden Comia, junior infielder Justin Janas and junior left-hander Cole Kirschsieper each earned Preseason All-Big Ten honors.
- Comia batted .323 and slugged .523 with 19 doubles, seven home runs and 50 RBIs in 2022. Janas batted .343 and slugged .531 with 11 doubles, six home runs and 37 RBIs last season. Senior infielder/outfielder Cam McDonald also returns after batting .363 and slugging .561 with 17 doubles, seven home runs and a team-high 59 RBIs in 2022. Kirschsieper posted a 7-2 record, a 3.40 ERA and a team-high 88 strikeouts in 87.1 innings pitched over 15 starts last season.
Scouting The Demon Deacons
- Wake Forest is ranked No. 6 in D1Baseball.com's Preseason Top 25 after posting a 41-19-1 overall record in 2022. The Demon Deacons were picked as the co-favorites with Louisville in the 2023 ACC Preseason Poll.
- Junior right-hander Rhett Lowder was named the ACC Pitcher of the Year in 2022 after posting an 11-3 record, a 3.08 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 99.1 innings pitched over 16 starts.
- Sophomore infielder Nick Kurtz returns after batting .338 and slugging .637 with 14 doubles, 15 home runs and 56 RBIs in 2022. He is joined in the lineup by junior infielder Brock Wilken, who batted .272 and slugged .602 with 23 home runs and 77 RBIs last season.
Series History (Wake Forest)
- Overall: Wake Forest leads 2-0
- Bertolini: 0-0 // Home: 0-0 // Away: 0-2
- Current Win Streak: 2 by Wake Forest
- First meeting: Feb. 22, 2013 (L, 2-8)
- YSU will be facing Wake Forest for the first time since the 2013 season. The Penguins fell 8-2 to the Demon Deacons on Feb. 22, 2013, before dropping a 6-5 decision two days later in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Preseason Notes
Looking to Keep Momentum Going
- Youngstown State will enter the 2023 season looking to build on the momentum that has been built over the last few campaigns.
- Most recently in 2022, YSU went 21-36 record to achieve back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 2005-06. The Penguins won 13 road contests for the second straight season in 2022 to reach double-digit road wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2006-07.
- The Penguins went 12-16 in Horizon League play last season after going 24-16 in league action in 2021. It marked the first time YSU has won double-digit Horizon League games in back-to-back seasons since 2008-09.
- YSU earned a pair of road wins over Power Five opponents in 2022. The Penguins defeated ACC member Pitt 5-2 on March 16 before beating Big Ten member Penn State 2-1 on March 22. The win against Penn State marked YSU's first win over a Big Ten opponent since 1996.
- Youngstown State placed third in the 2022 Horizon League Baseball Championship, which was its best finish since winning the tournament in 2014. The Penguins also won multiple games in the tournament for the first time since that championship season.
- In 2021, the Penguins went 32-24 overall to reach the 30-win plateau for just the second time in program history and for the first time since going 37-17 in 1995. YSU also reached the 20-win plateau for the first time since 2010.
O'Shaughnessy Coming Off Stellar Season
- Senior infielder Braeden O'Shaughnessy returns in 2023 after being named First-Team All-Horizon League in 2022. The Poland, Ohio, native became just the second YSU infielder to earn First-Team All-Horizon League honors since 2013.
- O'Shaughnessy led the Penguins with a .357 batting average, 79 hits, 16 doubles, seven home runs, 41 RBIs, 36 runs scored, a .543 slugging percentage, a .434 on-base percentage, a .977 OPS, 120 total bases and 221 at bats in 2022. He finished the season ranking second in the Horizon League in batting average and hits, fourth in at bats, tied for fourth in doubles, fifth in OPS, seventh in on-base percentage, ninth in slugging percentage and ninth in RBIs.
- O'Shaughnessy's 79 hits last season tied for the sixth most in a season in program history, and he became the first Penguin since Drew Dosch in 2012 to record at least 79 hits in a campaign. He also became the first Penguin since Jeremy Banks in 2012 to record at least 16 doubles in a season. O'Shaughnessy was the only Penguin to start all 57 games in 2022, and he set new single-season school records for games played and starts.
- O'Shaughnessy was named to Perfect Game's Preseason Horizon League All-Conference Team, and he was named a Top Player to Watch in the league by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. He was also ranked as the No.4 2023 MLB Draft prospect in the Horizon League by D1Baseball.com.
Perry Returns for Fifth Season
- Senior right-hander Travis Perry returns for his fifth season in a Penguin uniform in 2023. The Oil City, Pa., native has made 42 appearances and 25 starts during his career, logging 161 innings pitched and registering 120 strikeouts.
- Perry made 11 starts and four relief appearances in 2022. He finished the campaign with a 4-3 record, a 6.26 ERA and one complete game while posting career highs of 64.2 innings pitched and 49 strikeouts.
- Perry is expected to anchor a talented but young and inexperienced pitching staff in 2023. The Penguins return just 39% of their innings pitched and 34% of their strikeouts from last season.
D'Eusanio Returns to Lineup
- Senior infielder Steven D'Eusanio also returns for his fifth season at YSU in 2023. The Willoughby, Ohio, native has played in 155 games and made 130 starts over his first four seasons as a Penguin.
- D'Eusanio played in and started 52 games in 2022 on his way to earning a spot on the Horizon League All-Academic Honorable Mention Team. He batted .277 and slugged .435 with seven doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 28 RBIs. He also recorded 36 runs scored, 21 walks, 83 total bases and a .349 on-base percentage. D'Eusanio batted .296 and slugged .537 with three doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 23 RBIs over 28 starts in Horizon League play last season.
- D'Eusanio tied the Youngstown State single-game hits record with six hits in a 17-13 loss to Milwaukee on April 15, 2022. D'Eusanio hit four singles, a double and a home run to go 6-for-6 to match John Koehnlein's six-hit effort in seven at bats on May 24, 2007.
- D'Eusanio enters the 2023 season ranking 10th in program history with 19 career home runs. Andrew Kendrick holds the YSU record with 30 career home runs from 2016-18.
Grau Back Healthy After Injury-Shortened Season
- The Penguins are excited to have senior outfielder Turner Grau back fully healthy after he missed the first 44 games of the 2022 season with an injury. The Pittsburgh, Pa., native played in 13 games and made 12 starts last season after returning to the lineup on May 8. He batted .213 and slugged .319 with one triple, one home run, 11 RBIs, seven walks and one stolen base.
- Grau enjoyed a breakout season as a sophomore in 2021 as he batted .295 and slugged .541 with 13 doubles, seven triples, eight home runs and 42 RBIs. He also recorded 40 runs scored, 112 total bases, 13 walks and six stolen bases. Grau was ranked the No.6 2023 MLB Draft prospect in the Horizon League by D1Baseball.com.
- Grau's seven triples in 2021 tied the single-season school record that was set by Lou Vassalotti in 1994. He finished the 2021 season leading the Horizon League and ranking second in the nation in triples while ranking fifth in the league in total bases.
Marshalwitz Anchors Bullpen
- Senior right-hander Casey Marshalwitz is expected to anchor YSU's bullpen in 2023. The Gibsonia, Pa., native has made 34 career appearances, all of which have come out of the bullpen.
- Marshalwitz made a team and career-high 29 appearances on the mound for the Penguins in 2022. The 29 appearances led the Horizon League and are tied for the third most in a season in program history.
- Marshalwitz became the first Penguin to appear in at least 29 games on the mound since Joe King made 29 appearances in 2017. Marshalwitz finished the 2022 season with a 1-2 record, a 6.75 ERA and 32 strikeouts over 26.2 innings pitched.
- Marshalwitz is one of seven returning pitchers who made at least five appearances last season. Kenny Misik (23), Travis Perry (15), Nick Perez (17), Lane Rhodes (14), Brandon Mikos (12) and Will Shaffer (5) also return after serving as key pieces of the pitching staff in 2022.
Impact Transfers
- Youngstown State brought in five talented transfers for 2023, and each of them are expected to make a major impact for the Penguins. The five transfers include Patrick Gumto, Trey Pancake, Eddie Saucedo, RJ Sherwood and Joe Suarez.
- Gumto is a fifth-year senior right-hander who played the last four seasons at Division II Cal U (Pa.). The Allison Park, Pa., native posted an 8-2 record, a 3.76 ERA and nine saves in 81.1 innings pitched over 59 relief appearances in his career with the Vulcans. Gumto recorded 98 strikeouts and an opponent batting average of .203 during his four-year career at Cal U (Pa.). He was named to the All-PSAC Second Team each of the last two campaigns.
- Pancake is a redshirt freshman utility player who spent the 2022 season at Ohio State. The Negley, Ohio, native was named to the Division III All-Ohio First Team as a senior at South Range High School in 2021. He was the recipient of the Johnny Bench Award following his senior season as the top catcher in Ohio.
- Saucedo is a junior catcher who joins YSU after playing two seasons at Madison College. The Oregon, Wis., native batted .293 and slugged .382 with six doubles, one triple, one home run and 25 RBIs over 43 games played as a freshman in 2021.
- Sherwood is a junior outfielder who comes to YSU after playing the last two years at Kellogg Community College. He batted .347 and slugged .620 with 16 doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 50 RBIs over 46 games played as a sophomore in 2022.
- Suarez is a sophomore infielder who played his freshman campaign at Harford Community College. He batted .324 and slugged .465 with three doubles, two triples, one home run and 14 RBIs over 29 games played and 22 starts as a freshman in 2022.
Roster Composition
- There are 36 players on YSU's roster in 2023, and 21 of them were with the program last year. The Penguins return 17 letterwinners from last year's team and have 15 newcomers to the roster.
- The roster consists of eight seniors, six juniors, seven sophomores and 15 freshmen. The group of 15 newcomers includes 10 true freshmen and five transfers.
- The group of true freshmen includes Brandin Anderson (Weedville, Pa.), Tyler Barni (Twinsburg, Ohio), Aiden Dunlap (Irwin, Pa.), Aidan English (North Lima, Ohio), Braden Gebhardt (Howland, Ohio), Carter Kocik (West Salem, Ohio), Cam Marshalwitz (Gibsonia, Pa.), Matt Thompson (Wadsworth, Ohio), Jason Triveri (Boardman, Ohio) and Clay Wiesen (Hermitage, Pa.).
- The five transfers include Patrick Gumto (Cal U - Pa.), Trey Pancake (Ohio State), Eddie Saucedo (Madison College), RJ Sherwood (Kellogg Community College) and Joe Suarez (Harford Community College).
- The Penguins have 18 players from Ohio and 12 players from Pennsylvania as part of their 2023 roster. YSU also has one player from Colorado, Michigan, New York, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. Youngstown State has 17 players from Northeast Ohio and 12 players from the Mahoning Valley on its roster in 2023. The Penguins also have 10 players from Western Pennsylvania.
Up Next
Following four games on opening weekend, YSU will return to action with a four-game series at Memphis on Feb. 24-26. The Penguins and Tigers will open their series on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. ET before playing a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday. The series finale will take place on Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. ET.
