The Youngstown State baseball team fell 11-1 to Texas State in the opening-weekend series finale on Sunday afternoon at Bobcat Ballpark in San Marcos, Texas.
The Penguins took an early 1-0 edge in the top of the first inning before the Bobcats responded with four runs in the home half of the frame to move in front. Texas State added to its lead in five of its final six at bats while completing the series sweep in the seven-inning affair.
Youngstown State falls to 0-3 overall while Texas State improves to 3-0 following the opening weekend of the 2024 season.
Trey Law doubled and scored a run, Ian Francis recorded a single and Derrick Tarpley Jr. notched the first RBI of his collegiate career.
YSU starter Lane Rhodes suffered the loss after allowing four runs on three walks in his first outing since suffering a season-ending injury on opening weekend in 2023. Braden Gebhardt was responsible for three runs on three hits and five walks of 3.2 innings of relief.
Casey Marshalwitz allowed two runs on one hit and one walk over 1.2 innings before freshmen Niall Todd and Chris Domke each recorded a pair of outs in the first action of their collegiate careers. Domke surrendered two runs on two hits while collecting his first-career strikeout.
The Penguins jumped ahead early with a single run in the top of the first inning. Law hit a leadoff double to left field and scored when Tarpley Jr. drew a bases-loaded walk.
The Bobcats answered with four runs in the home half of the first inning to move in front 4-1. Chase Mora drew a bases-load walk, August Ramirez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Aaron Lugo added a two-out, two-run single to right field. Texas State scored a single run in the bottom of the second to increase its lead to 5-1. Ryne Farber drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Alec Patino.
The Bobcats plated a pair of runs on a two-out, two-run double to right center from Ramirez in the bottom of the fourth, and Cameron Thompson's solo home run in the fifth allowed the home team to build an 8-1 advantage. In the home half of the sixth, Davis Powell was hit by a pitch and came around to score on a balk to give Texas State a 9-1 lead. The Bobcats scored the final two runs of the contest in the seventh with an RBI double by Farber and an RBI groundout from Powell.
Texas State starter Peyton Zabel allowed one run on two hits and five walks with six strikeouts over four innings to earn the victory. Three Bobcat relievers each tossed a scoreless inning of relief after Zabel departed.
Youngstown State will return to action on Friday to begin a three-game series at College of Charleston at 4 p.m. The Penguins and Cougars will proceed to play on Saturday at 2 p.m. before closing the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.
For news and updates throughout the 2024 season, follow @YSUBaseball on X and Instagram.
