The Youngstown State baseball team won its fifth straight game with a 9-4 series-opening victory over Purdue Fort Wayne on Friday at Mastodon Field in Fort Wayne, Ind.
The Penguins scored once in the first inning before the Mastodons plated a single run in the second to tie the game. Purdue Fort Wayne pushed across another single run in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead before YSU struck for two runs in the fifth to regain a 3-2 advantage. The Guins scored four times in the seventh to build a 7-2 lead before the Mastodons got a pair of runs in the home half of the inning to draw within 7-4. YSU added single runs in the eighth and ninth innings to produce the final margin.
Youngstown State improves to 12-32 overall and 7-14 in Horizon League play while Purdue Fort Wayne falls to 10-36 overall and 6-16 in league action.
YSU starter Travis Perry allowed two runs on four hits with seven strikeouts over six innings to earn his fifth victory of the season. The fifth-year senior right-hander retired the side in order in the first, third and sixth innings. Zach Stayduhar was charged with two runs on two hits and two walks in two thirds of an inning. Patrick Gumto tossed 1.1 scoreless innings of relief before Casey Marshalwitz worked a scoreless ninth inning to secure the victory.
Braeden O'Shaughnessy went 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs to lead the Penguins offensively. RJ Sherwood went 2-for-3 with a double, a two-run home run and three runs scored while Andre Good was 2-for-5 with a home run. Ian Francis also posted two hits as he went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. The Penguins outhit the Mastodons 12-7 for the contest.
The Penguins took an early 1-0 lead with a single run in the top of the first inning. Trey Law hit a leadoff single and came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Steven D'Eusanio.
The Mastodons answered with a single run of their own in the bottom of the second inning to even the score at 1-1. Caileb Johnson hit a leadoff double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Cade Fitzpatrick and scored on an RBI single by Grant Thoroman.
Purdue Fort Wayne plated another single run in the home half of the fourth to take a 2-1 lead. Braedon Blackord hit a leadoff double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Fitzpatrick and scored on a sacrifice fly from Jarrett Bickel.
Youngstown State regained a 3-2 lead with two runs on two hits in the top of the fifth inning. Francis hit a leadoff double, Sherwood was hit by a pitch and both runners scored on a two-run double to left field by Braeden O'Shaughnessy.
The Penguins extended their advantage to 5-2 in the top of the seventh inning when Francis hit a leadoff single and Sherwood followed with a two-run home run to left field. Law then drew a walk, advanced to third on a double by Braeden O'Shaughnessy and scored when Padraig O'Shaughnessy reached on an error. Turner Grau then delivered an RBI single through the right side to give YSU a 7-2 edge.
The Mastodons scored two runs on RBI singles from Jacob Walker and Blackford in the bottom of the seventh to cut YSU's lead to 7-4.
YSU pushed its lead to 8-4 in the top of the eighth inning when Sherwood hit a one-out double and raced home on an RBI single by Braeden O'Shaughnessy. The Penguins added further insurance in the top of the ninth when Good hit a two-out solo home run to right field.
Purdue Fort Wayne starter Mac Ayres allowed six runs, four of them earned, on seven hits over six innings in a losing effort.
The Penguins and Mastodons will continue their three-game Horizon League series on Saturday at 2 p.m. Live stats will be available through links on YSUsports.com, and fans can follow @YSUBaseball on Twitter for live updates.
