Memphis got a two-out RBI single from Tyler Heckert in the bottom of the ninth inning to earn a 6-5 victory over the Youngstown State baseball team in the series finale on Sunday at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field in Memphis, Tenn.
With game tied 5-5, Anthony Hansen drew a leadoff walk to begin the home half of the ninth and Austin Baskin followed with a double to left center to put runners and second and third. After Logan Kohler reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases, the Penguins got two consecutive force outs at the plate to preserve the tie. However, Heckert would come up and deliver a walk-off RBI single up the middle to give the Tigers the one-run victory.
Youngstown State falls to 1-7 overall on the season while Memphis improves to 6-2. The Tigers won the final three games of the weekend series after the Penguins took the series opener 6-2 on Friday night.
Andre Good went 2-for-4 with an RBI single and a two-run home run while Trey Law, Braeden O'Shaughnessy and Padraig O'Shaughnessy had two hits apiece for the Penguins offensively.
YSU starter Braden Gebhardt allowed one run on four hits with a pair of strikeouts over a career-high three innings pitched in his first-career start. The freshman left-hander retired the side in order in the first inning.
Brandin Anderson allowed an unearned run and struck out two batters in one inning of relief. Kenny Misik was responsible for two runs on one hit over a career-high 2.1 innings while Casey Marshalwitz was charged with one run on one hit in one inning of work. Patrick Gumto suffered the loss after surrendering one run on three hits with three strikeouts over 1.1 innings.
Youngstown State got on the board first with one run on three hits in the top of the first inning. Law hit a leadoff single before Turner Grau replaced him at first base by reaching on a fielder's choice. Braeden O'Shaughnessy singled through the right side to set up a two-run RBI single by his brother Padraig O'Shaughnessy that gave YSU a 1-0 lead.
Memphis evened the score at 1-1 with one run on three hits in the bottom of the third inning. Cameron Benson hit a two-out single, advanced to second on a balk and scored on an RBI single by RJ Jimerson.
The Penguins regained a 3-1 lead in the top of the fourth when Clay Wiesen hit a leadoff double and Good followed with a two-run blast to right field.
Memphis cut YSU's lead to 3-2 with an unearned run in the home half of the fourth inning. Jake Curtis was hit by a pitch, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored when Brayland Skinner reached on a mishandled ground ball to first base.
The Tigers took their first lead of the contest at 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth when Brennan Dubose was hit by a pitch and Heckert followed with a go-ahead, two-run home run to left field.
The Penguins rallied to take a 5-4 advantage with two runs on three hits in the top of the eighth inning. Braeden O'Shaughnessy hit a leadoff single and Padraig O'Shaughnessy followed with a one-out single to put runners at the corners. After Wiesen walked to load the bases, Good drove in a run with an infield single and Eddie Saucedo drew a bases-loaded walk to put YSU back in front.
Memphis evened the score again, this time at 5-5, with one run on two hits in the bottom half of the eighth. Kohler hit a leadoff single and Curtis drew a walk before Dubose advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Heckert drove home Kohler with an infield single to second base to tie the ballgame. Gumto got two clutch strikeouts for YSU to end the inning and avoid further damage.
Heckert went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs to lead the Tigers offensively.
Memphis starter Seth Garner allowed three runs on six hits and struck out three batters over six innings in a no-decision. Dalton Kendrick was awarded the win after working 1.2 scoreless innings of relief with a pair of strikeouts.
Youngstown State will continue its early-season road stretch on Friday when it begins a four-game series at Baylor. First pitch for the series opener is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
