The Youngstown State baseball team had its eight-game winning streak snapped with a 10-7 loss at Northern Kentucky in the series opener on Friday at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex in Highland Heights, Ky.
The Penguins trailed 3-2 before the Norse scored three times in the fourth, twice in the sixth and once in the seventh to build a 9-2 lead. Youngstown State rallied for five runs in the top of the eighth to pull within 9-7 before NKU scored a single run in the home half of the inning and held on for the series-opening victory.
YSU had its longest winning streak since the 2005 season snapped as it lost a game for the first time since April 21. The Guins also had a six-game winning streak in Horizon League play halted with Friday's defeat. Youngstown State falls to 15-33 overall and 9-15 in Horizon League play while Northern Kentucky improves to 28-20 overall and 16-9 in league action.
Seven different Penguins recorded a hit in the game while Steven D'Eusanio and Matt Thompson each drove in a pair of runs. NKU outhit YSU 9-7 for the contest.
YSU starter Travis Perry suffered the loss after allowing six runs on six hits over 3.2 innings. Nick Perez was responsible for two runs on one hit with four strikeouts over 2.1 innings of relief. Brandin Anderson was charged with an unearned run in one inning while Patrick Gumto gave up a single run in his lone inning of work.
The Norse took an early 1-0 lead with a single run in the bottom of the first inning. Cleary Simpson drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on an RBI groundout by Liam McFadden-Ackman.
NKU posted another single tally in the home half of the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. Nick Wimmers hit a one-out single and came around to score on an RBI groundout by Simpson.
The Penguins got on the board with a single run in the top of the third to cut NKU's lead to 2-1. Ian Francis was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on a single by Trey Law and scored when Braeden O'Shaughnessy reached on a fielder's choice.
Northern Kentucky pushed its lead to 3-1 with one run on one hit in the bottom of the third inning. McFadden-Ackman was hit by a pitch and scored on a two-out RBI single by Wimmers.
Youngstown State plated one run on two hits in the top of the fourth inning to draw back within a run at 3-2. Turner Grau hit a one-out single, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Thompson.
The Norse scored three runs on two hits in the bottom of the fourth to increase their advantage to 6-2. Simpson hit a one-out single, stole second and scored on an RBI double by Noah Fisher. After a walk and a hit batter, John Odom drew a bases-loaded walk and another run scored on a wild pitch.
NKU took an 8-2 edge in the bottom of the sixth when Fisher drew a leadoff walk and Manny Voorhees followed with a two-run home run to center field. Northern Kentucky tacked on another single run in the bottom of the seventh to take 9-2 lead. Peyton Lane reached on an error, advanced to third on a double by Adam Schneider and scored on a sacrifice fly from Simpson.
The Penguins rallied for five runs on four hits while sending 10 batters to the plate in the top of the eighth inning to pull within 9-7. Law drew a leadoff walk, Braeden O'Shaughnessy singled and Padraig O'Shaughnessy walked to load the bases with nobody out. After a pitching change, D'Eusanio greeted the new NKU reliever with a two-run single up the middle. Grau was hit by a pitch before Thompson drew a bases-loaded walk to cut NKU's lead to 9-5. After a strikeout, Francis and RJ Sherwood hit back-to-back RBI singles to bring the Penguins within two runs.
The Norse tacked on an insurance run when McFadden-Ackman led off the bottom of the eighth with a solo home run. NKU reliever Logen Devenport proceeded to retire the Penguins in order in the top of the ninth to earn the save.
NKU starter Clay Brock allowed two runs on three hits while striking out seven over seven innings to earn the victory.
The Penguins and Norse will continue their three-game Horizon League series on Saturday at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
