The Youngstown State baseball team dropped an 18-3 decision to No. 6 Wake Forest in its final game of opening weekend on Sunday at David F. Couch Ballpark in Winston-Salem, N.C.
The Penguins scored three runs over the first two innings to take a 3-0 lead before the Demon Deacons scored once in the second and twice in the third to even score. Wake Forest then exploded for 12 runs in the bottom of the fourth to pull away for the seven-inning victory.
Youngstown State falls to 0-4 on the season while Wake Forest improves to 3-0. The Demon Deacons picked up their second win over the Penguins on opening weekend after earning a 9-3 victory on Friday.
Braeden O'Shaughnessy and Andre Good each hit home runs while Trey Law and Eli Brown also had hits for the Penguins.
YSU went ahead 2-0 in the top of the first inning as Trey Law drew a leadoff walk before Braeden O'Shaughnessy hit a two-run blast to left field. The Penguins pushed their advantage to 3-0 when Andre Good led off the top of the second inning with his first home run of the season.
Wake Forest got on the board in the home half of the second inning when Chris Katz led off the frame with a solo home run to left center. The Demon Deacons scored two more runs in the third as Gio Cueto drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Marek Houston drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game at 3-3.
Wake Forest opened up the game with 12 runs on six hits in the bottom of the fourth inning. Brock Wilken hit a three-run home run, Lucas Costello singled in a run and Houston drew a bases-loaded walk. Tommy Hawke delivered a two-run double, Nick Kurtz drew a bases-loaded walk and Kyle Joye hit a three-run double. The final run of the inning scored on an RBI single from Cueto. The Demon Deacons would go on to add three runs on two hits in the home half of the sixth for the final margin.
YSU starter Lane Rhodes was forced to leave the game due to injury after recording just one out. Kenny Misik allowed three runs on two hits while posting new career highs of three strikeouts and two innings pitched. Zach Stayduhar recorded one out in the third inning before Will Shaffer surrendered eight runs on three hits and four walks in one third of an inning. Casey Marshalwitz was charged with four runs on three hits in two thirds of an inning. Cam Marshalwitz was responsible for three runs on three hits in a career-high 2.1 innings pitched.
Wake Forest starter Michael Massey earned the win after allowing three runs on three hits with four strikeouts over four innings. Derek Crum, Chase Walter and Ben Shenosky each worked a scoreless inning of relief for the Demon Deacons.
Youngstown State will return to action on Friday when it opens a four-game series at Memphis at 7 p.m. ET.
