Niles, Ohio -- Eli Brown hit a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Youngstown State baseball team a 7-6 series-clinching victory over Oakland on Saturday at Eastwood Field.
On a day where YSU's 2004 and 2014 Horizon League Championships teams were honored prior to first pitch, the Penguins provided a memorable moment in front of their former champions. Brown's walk-off blast is the first by a Penguin since Kyle Benyo hit a walk-off against Bowling Green on April 19, 2017.
The Penguins fell behind 6-2 before Trey Law's three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth brought them back within a run. After a weather delay of one hour and 14 minutes, Chris Domke retired the Golden Grizzlies in order in the top of the ninth to set the stage for Brown's ninth-inning heroics.
Ian Francis reached with a one-out single before Oakland reliever Brandon Decker induced a popout for the second out of the inning. With YSU down to its final strike, Brown blasted a 1-2 pitch over the wall in left center field to give the Penguins their third straight victory.
Brown continued his scorching week at the plate as went 2-for-5 and delivered his second walk-off hit of the week at Eastwood Field. Law went 3-for-5 with a triple and his first home run of the season. Francis, Teddy Ruffner and Jack Johnson added two hits apiece as the Penguins outhit the Golden Grizzlies 13-6.
Domke earned his second victory of the season, and he and Braden Gebhardt combined to blank Oakland over the final five frames. Gebhardt surrendered three runs, two of them earned on two hits and four walks with five strikeouts over six strong innings of relief. The sophomore left-hander did not allow a run over his final four innings on the bump. YSU starter Brandon Mikos allowed three runs on four hits over two innings of work.
The Penguins jumped in front with a pair of runs on four hits in the bottom of the first inning. Alejandro Covas delivered an RBI double, and Francis followed with an RBI single to give YSU a 2-0 lead.
The Golden Grizzlies responded immediately with three runs in the top of the second inning to move in front. Brandon Heidal hit a leadoff single and scored on an RBI triple from Carter Hain. Trent Rice brought home Hain with an RBI single, and Rice scored on an RBI bunt single from Reggie Bussey to give Oakland a 3-2 lead.
Oakland pushed its lead to 4-2 with a single run in the top of the third inning. Gavin Arseneau reached with a leadoff bunt single and came around to score on a wild pitch. The Golden Grizzlies increased their advantage to 6-2 with two runs in the top of the top of the fourth. A pair of walks and a hit batter loaded the bases, and Arseneau was hit by a pitch to force in the first run of the inning. Heidal brought in the second run with a sacrifice fly to right field.
Youngstown State got back within a run with a three spot in the bottom of the eighth. Johnson hit a two-out single and Joe Suarez doubled to set up Law's three-run blast that brought the Penguins within a run.
Oakland starter Shane McAlinden allowed five runs on 11 hits over 7.2 innings in a no-decision. Decker took the loss after working one inning out of the bullpen.
Youngstown State will go for its first Horizon League series sweep of the season in the finale with Oakland tomorrow at 1 p.m. Live audio will be available at YSNLive.com.
