Missed scoring opportunities doomed the Youngstown State baseball team in a 6-3 loss to Milwaukee in the Horizon League series opener on Thursday at Franklin Field in Franklin, Wis.
Milwaukee led 2-1 after the first inning and it put together another two-run inning in the second to build a 4-1 edge. YSU posted a single tally in the third to get within 4-2 before MKE scored twice in the fifth. The Guins pushed across a single run in seventh, and the Panthers were able to hold on for the series-opening victory.
The Penguins outhit the Panthers 10-7, but YSU left the bases loaded on three occasions and stranded a total of 14 baserunners in the contest. Trey Law went 3-for-5 while Alejandro Covas doubled and hit his sixth home run of the season. Ian Francis had two hits including an RBI single, and Teddy Ruffner recorded an RBI triple.
YSU starter Jacob Gehring suffered the loss after allowing four runs on five hits over four innings while Braden Gebhardt was responsible for two runs without recording an out. Nick Perez allowed one hit with a pair of strikeouts over three strong innings of relief, and Gavin Wilms retired the side in order in the eighth.
The Penguins struck first in the top of the first inning as Covas hit a two-out solo home run to right center to give YSU a 1-0 lead.
The Panthers responded immediately in the home half of the first inning. Justin Hausser reached on a fielder's choice before Carson Hansen hit a two-out, two-run homer to left field to put Milwaukee in front 2-1.
The Panthers pushed their advantage to 4-1 with two more runs in the bottom of the second inning. Sean Tillmon hit a leadoff double, Q Phillips followed with an RBI single and Teige Lethert added a solo home run to give Milwaukee a three-run lead.
Youngstown State scored a single run in the top of the third to cut Milwaukee's lead to 4-2. Brett Stanley reached on an error, advanced to third on a double by Covas and scored on an RBI single from Francis.
The Panthers increased their advantage to 6-2 with a pair of two-out runs in the bottom of the fifth. Dallan Quigley reached with a leadoff infield single and Gabe Roessler walked before Gebhardt gave way to Perez out of the bullpen. After Perez induced back-to-back fly outs, Hansen sent a two-out, two-run double down the left field line.
YSU shaved MKE's lead to 6-3 with a single run in the top of the seventh inning. Francis reached on an error before Ruffner delivered a two-out RBI triple down the right field line.
The Penguins loaded the bases for a third time in the game in the top of the ninth inning. Francis and Matt Thompson hit back-to-back one-out singles and Eli Brown drew a two-out walk to put the potential tying run on base. However, Milwaukee reliever Johnny Kelliher got Chase Franken to ground out to second base to collect his fourth save of the season.
Milwaukee starter Luke Hansel was awarded his third victory after allowing two runs, one of them earned, on three hits with five strikeouts over three innings. Logan Snow permitted one unearned run over four innings of relief while James Severson and Kelliher each worked a scoreless inning.
The Penguins will attempt to even their three-game series with the Panthers on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
