The Youngstown State baseball team used strong pitching and timely hitting to pick up a 4-3 victory over Akron on Wednesday afternoon at Skeeles Field in Akron, Ohio.
The Zips jumped in front with a single tally in the bottom of the second inning before the Penguins scored three times in the top of the third to go ahead. Akron tied the contest with a pair of runs in the fourth before YSU scored once in the fifth for the final margin.
Youngstown State improves to 4-23 overall on the season while Akron falls to 5-22.
Alejandro Covas matched his career high with three hits by going 3-for-5 with a triple and three RBIs to pace the Penguins offensively. Trey Law went 2-for-5 with an RBI single and scored a run while RJ Sherwood was 2-for-2 with a double, a walk and a run scored.
Nolan Kubilus did not allow a hit over two scoreless innings of relief to earn the victory while Chris Domke worked a scoreless ninth inning to collect his third save of the season.
YSU starter Aidan English allowed one run on three hits with three strikeouts over three innings while Lane Rhodes was responsible for two runs on two hits in his lone inning of work. Kubilus, Cam Marshalwitz, Brandin Anderson, Casey Marshalwitz and Domke combined to limit the Zips to just one hit over the final five frames.
The Zips took an early lead with a single run on two hits in the bottom of the second inning. Sam Seeker singled, stole second and scored on an RBI single from Michael Sprockett.
The Penguins responded with three runs on four hits in the top of the third inning to take a 3-1 advantage. Sherwood hit a leadoff single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Trey Pancake and moved to third on a single by Eli Brown. Law drove home Sherwood with an RBI single before Covas delivered a two-out, two-run triple to right field.
Akron pushed across a pair of runs in the home half of the fourth to even the score at 3-3. Nicky Sackett reached with an infield single and scored on an RBI single by Henry Hayman. Seeker was hit by a pitch and came around to score on a sacrifice bunt from Sprockett.
Youngstown State moved back in front with a single tally in the top of the fifth inning. Brown drew a leadoff walk and scored on an RBI single by Covas to give the Guins a decisive 4-3 edge.
Akron starter Elijah Griffith surrendered three runs on five hits over four innings on the mound. Five Zips relievers combined to allow one run on four hits over the final five innings of play.
Youngstown State will return to Horizon League play on Friday when it begins a three-game series at Wright State. First pitch at Nischwitz Stadium in Dayton is scheduled for 3 p.m.
