Niles, Ohio -- The Youngstown State baseball team battled the league leader Northern Kentucky to a one-run, extra-inning decision in game one before dropping a four-run decision in game two as part of a Horizon League doubleheader on Friday at Eastwood Field. The Penguins came up short 8-7 in 10 innings in game one before falling 8-4 in the nightcap.
Youngstown State falls to 3-23 overall and 2-7 in Horizon League play while Northern Kentucky improves to 18-9 overall and 9-0 in league action.
Game 1 Recap
The Youngstown State baseball team rallied to force extra innings before Northern Kentucky scored in the top of the 10th inning and held on for an 8-7 victory in a back-and-forth game one of Friday's doubleheader.
The Penguins led 6-3 after seven innings, but the Norse struck for four runs in the top of the eighth to take a one-run advantage. YSU remained alive with a single run in the bottom of the ninth to force the extra frame before NKU regained the upper hand with a decisive run in the top of the 10th.
Brett Stanley went 2-for-5 with a triple and three RBIs while Eli Brown was 2-for-2 with three walks, an RBI and two runs scored. Aiden Dunlap went 2-for-4 and scored a run while Alejandro Covas delivered a key triple and scored the game-tying run in the ninth inning.
YSU starter Jacob Gehring allowed three runs on three hits and five walks over 4.1 innings in a no-decision. Nick Perez surrendered two runs on three hits with two strikeouts in 2.2 innings of relief. Casey Marshalwitz was responsible for two runs while Chris Domke had three strikeouts over two scoreless innings. Nolan Kubilus suffered the loss after allowing one run on two hits and two walks in the 10th inning.
With the Norse ahead 7-6 heading to the bottom of the ninth, Covas hit a one-out triple to right center and Ian Francis followed with an RBI single to left field to even the score and send the game to extra innings.
In the top of the 10th, Treyvin Moss hit a leadoff single, stole second and scored on an RBI single through the right side from Liam McFadden-Ackman to put the Norse in front 8-7.
The Penguins got a pair of runners on base with two outs in the home half of the 10th, but NKU third baseman Clearly Simpson cleanly defended a hard-hit groundout ball off the bat of Covas to give the Norse their 14th win in the last 15 games.
NKU starter Ben Gerl allowed four runs on five hits and five walks over 3.2 innings. Aaron Massie picked up the win after permitting one run on two hits in two innings out of the bullpen.
Game 2 Recap
The Youngstown State baseball team fell to Northern Kentucky by a final score of 8-4 in the second game of Friday's doubleheader.
The Penguins trailed 4-3 after five innings before the Norse scored three runs over their final three at bats and held on to complete the series sweep.
Stanley went 3-for-4 with an RBI double and a stolen base as part of a five-hit day while Trey Law was 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. After matching the Norse with 11 hits in game one on Friday, the Penguins grinded out eight hits as a team in the series finale.
YSU starter Colin Casteel allowed two runs on four hits and four walks with four punch outs over four innings on the mound. Chase Franken took the loss after surrendering two runs in the fifth inning while Gavin Wilms was responsible for three runs on two hits in one inning of work. Brandin Anderson and Cam Marshalwitz each tossed a scoreless inning of relief while Mikey Rodriques was tagged with one unearned run in the ninth inning.
After Northern Kentucky scored once in the top of the first, YSU responded with two runs in the home half of the inning to take a 2-1 lead. Law hit a leadoff double, advanced to third on a single from Stanley and scored on a wild pitch. Stanely was then able to score on an overthrow following a flyout to put the Penguins in front.
The Norse tied the contest at 2-2 in the top of the second inning on an RBI groundout from Logen Devenport. John Odom's RBI single in the top of the fifth inning gave NKU a 3-2 advantage, and an RBI groundout by Tyler Shaneyfelt made it a two-run game.
Youngstown State got within a run at 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth as Trey Pancake reached on an error and scored on Stanley's RBI double down the left field line.
Northern Kentucky extended its lead to 7-3 with three runs on three hits in the top of the seventh. Moss hit a leadoff single and scored when pinch hitter Zacarias Salinas reached on an error. McFadden-Ackman singled and scored on an RBI single from Shaneyfelt, and another run scored when Devenport grounded into a double play.
The Penguins plated their final run of the game in bottom of the seventh as Pancake hit a leadoff single, advanced two bases on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly from Law.
The Norse added an unearned run in the top of the ninth for the final margin. Devenport reached on a fielder's choice, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error and scored on a wild pitch.
NKU starter Clay Brock earned the victory after allowing four runs, two of them earned, on six hits with six strikeouts over seven innings. Jared Teke allowed two hits and struck out three batters over two scoreless innings of relief to collect the save.
Youngstown State is scheduled to conclude its four-game homestand at Eastwood Field on Tuesday with a non-conference contest against Pitt at 5 p.m.
