College of Charleston scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth to rally for a 2-1 victory over the Youngstown State baseball team in the series opener on Friday at Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
The Penguins went ahead 1-0 on Teddy Ruffner's second home run of the season in the top of the second inning. The Cougars produced a pair of two-out runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and held on for the series-opening win.
Youngstown State falls to 0-4 on the 2024 campaign while College of Charleston improves to 5-0.
YSU starter Jacob Gehring suffered the loss after allowing two runs on four hits with three strikeouts and four walks over 4.2 innings in his second outing as a Penguin. The junior right-hander retired the side in the order in the first inning as he blanked the Cougars over the first four frames.
Freshman left-hander Niall Todd allowed two hits while recording the final out of the fifth inning in his second career appearance. Nolan Kubilus pitched a scoreless sixth with a pair of punch outs, freshman right-hander Chris Domke worked a scoreless seventh and Casey Marshalwitz came on to toss a scoreless eighth.
Freshman right fielder Alejandro Covas went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles and two stolen bases to lead YSU offensively. The Cougars outhit the Penguins 9-7 while leaving 16 runners on base.
The Penguins jumped in front 1-0 when Ruffner led off the top of the second inning with a solo home run over the wall in left field.
The Cougars evened the score at 1-1 in the home half of the fifth inning when Trotter Harlan hit a two-out solo home run to left field. Gehring issued back-to-back walks before giving way to Todd out of the bullpen. After an infield single by Will Baumhofer loaded the bases, Luke Wood followed with another infield single to give College of Charleston the decisive 2-1 advantage.
College of Charleston starter Jake Brink allowed one run on six hits while striking out six batters over seven innings to earn the victory. Alex Lyon surrendered one hit over the final two frames to collect the six-out save.
The Penguins and Cougars will continue their three-game non-conference series on Saturday. First pitch at Patriots Point is scheduled for 2 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on FloSports.
