Purdue Fort Wayne scored nine runs over the final two innings to overcome a 3-0 deficit and beat the Youngstown State baseball team 9-3 in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Eastwood Field.
The Penguins led 3-0 after seven innings as their starter Aidan English cruised on the mound, but the Mastodons exploded for eight runs on five hits and one error in the eighth to pull away for the series win. Purdue Fort Wayne added an insurance run in the top of the ninth for the final margin.
Purdue Fort Wayne improves to 8-20 overall and 5-4 in Horizon League play while Youngstown State falls to 6-20 overall and 3-5 in league action.
English allowed two runs on four hits and four walks over a career-high seven innings in a no-decision. The freshman right-hander from North Lima, Ohio, did not allow a run over his first six innings on the mound as he retired the side in order in three different frames. English retired eight straight batters between the second and fifth innings, and he handed the ball to the bullpen with a 3-0 lead.
Offensively for YSU, Matt Thompson hit the first home run of his career, Turner Grau recorded an RBI single and scored a run and Steven D'Eusanio had an RBI double.
With YSU ahead 3-0 in the top of the eighth, Luke Miles hit a leadoff single off English and Dylan Stewart followed with a walk. Kenny Misik came on in relief of English and issued a walk to Cade Nelis before hitting Tyler Nelson to force in Purdue Fort Wayne's first run. After striking out Braedon Blackford, Misik walked Ben Higgins with the bases loaded to make it a one-run game.
After Patrick Gumto took over for Misik, Caileb Johnson greeted the senior right-hander with a two-run single up the middle to put the 'Dons in front 4-3. Jarrett Bickel, Luke Miles and Nelis each had two-out RBI singles and another run scored on an error to increase Purdue Fort Wayne's advantage to 8-3. Bickel delivered another RBI single in the top of the ninth for the final run of the contest.
The Penguins jumped in front with two runs on two hits in the bottom of the third inning. Eli Brown drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on a two-out RBI single to center by Grau. D'Eusanio followed with an RBI double to right center that plated Grau to give YSU a 2-0 lead.
YSU pushed its lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth when Thompson hit a solo home run, the first of his career, over the wall in left field.
Misik suffered the loss for YSU after allowing three runs in a third of an inning. Gumto was responsible for three runs, one of them earned, on four hits while recording one out. Zach Stayduhar was charged with one run in his inning of work before Brandin Anderson came on to get the final out in the top of the ninth.
Purdue Fort Wayne starter Owen Willard surrendered two runs on three hits and four walks over four innings. Brody Fine was awarded the victory after allowing one run on one hit in three innings of relief. Kevin Fee struck out three batters over two scoreless innings of relief for the 'Dons.
The Penguins will continue their seven-game homestand at Eastwood Field on Tuesday with a non-conference contest against Pitt at 5 p.m.
