Eli Brown hit his first-career home run as the Youngstown State baseball team dropped a 18-2 decision to Georgia Tech in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium in Atlanta, Ga.
The Yellow Jackets scored the first nine runs of the contest before Brown sent a two-run blast over the right field wall in the top of the fourth inning. Georgia Tech went on to add three runs in the fifth and six in the sixth on its way to completing the four-game series sweep in seven innings.
Brown finished 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and a stolen base while Teddy Ruffner was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Derrick Tarpley Jr. and Brett Stanley also added singles for the Penguins.
YSU starter Lane Rhodes suffered the loss after allowing nine runs on eight hits with a pair of strikeouts over two innings. Niall Todd was responsible for three runs on two hits with three punch outs over two innings while Casey Marshalwitz tossed one scoreless frame out of the bullpen. Bradin Anderson permitted five runs on three hits while Chase Franken allowed one run in two thirds of an inning.
The Yellow Jackets jumped ahead quickly with four runs on six hits in the home half of the first inning. Georgia Tech struck for five runs in the home half of the third to build a 9-0 lead.
The Penguins got on the board in the top of the fourth as Ruffner hit a two-out single and Brown followed with his first-career home run to right field.
The Yellow Jackets answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to push their advantage to 12-2 before adding six runs in the sixth to account for the final margin.
Georgia Tech starter Logan McGuire earned the victory after allowing two runs on six hits with five strikeouts over five innings. Riley Stanford and Caden Gaudette each came on to toss a scoreless inning of relief for the Yellow Jackets.
Youngstown State will return to non-conference action on Tuesday at Kent State. First pitch at Olga Mural Field at Schoonover Stadium is slated for 3 p.m.
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