The Youngstown State baseball team fell 11-5 to Northern Kentucky in the series finale on Saturday afternoon at Eastwood Field.
The Penguins scored twice in the first to take an early lead before the Norse scored once in the third, three times in the fourth and five times in the fifth to build a 9-2 advantage. YSU pushed across a single run in the sixth and two in the eighth to get within 9-5 before the Norse plated two runs in the ninth for the final margin.
NKU improves to 17-12 overall and 8-4 in Horizon League play while YSU falls to 6-24 overall and 3-8 in league action.
Steven D'Eusanio went 1-for-2 with an RBI double, two walks and two runs scored. Matt Thompson went 1-for-3 with an RBI double while Padraig O'Shaughnessy was 1-for-2 with an RBI single, two walks and a pair of runs scored.
YSU starter Aidan English took the loss after allowing four runs, three of them earned, on six hits and four walks over 3.2 innings. Kenny Misik was responsible for four runs on four walks in two thirds of an inning while Zach Stayduhar was charged with an unearned run in one third of an inning. Brandin Anderson allowed two runs on three hits over a career-high four innings of relief. Casey Marshalwitz came on to record the final out in the top of the ninth.
The Penguins jumped in front with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the first inning. Braeden O'Shaughnessy hit a one-out single and scored on a two-out RBI double by D'Eusanio. Padraig O'Shaughnessy followed with an RBI single that plated D'Eusanio to give YSU a 2-0 lead.
The Norse cut YSU's lead in half at 2-1 with a single run in the top of the third inning. Noah Fisher hit a leadoff single, stole second and scored on a ground-rule double by Liam McFadden-Ackman.
NKU took a 4-2 lead with three runs on one hit in the top of the fourth inning. Cleary Simpson drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on a fielding error before Noah Fisher hit a two-run home run to left field. The Norse extended their advantage to 9-2 with five runs on one hit and three errors in the top of the fifth inning.
YSU got back on the board with a single run in the home half of the fifth. Padraig O'Shaughnessy drew a one-out walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI double down the left field line by Thompson to cut NKU's lead to 9-3.
The Penguins plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth to draw within 9-5. D'Eusanio drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on an error following a wild pitch. Padraig O'Shaughnessy also walked and he scored on an RBI groundout by pinch hitter Clay Wiesen.
The Norse pushed their lead to 11-5 with two runs on two hits in the top of the ninth. Fisher hit a one-out double and scored on an RBI double by McFadden-Ackman. During the ensuing at bat, McFadden-Ackman scored on a wild pitch for the final run of the contest.
NKU starter Kaden Echeman earned the victory after allowing two runs on four hits and striking out nine batters over five innings of work.
Fisher went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, two RBIs and four runs scored to pace the Norse offensively. McFadden-Ackman also notched three hits as he was 3-for-5 with three doubles and two RBIs.
The Penguins will return to action on Monday for a non-conference contest at Pitt at 5 p.m.
