The Youngstown State baseball team used a four-run ninth inning to rally for a 13-10 victory over Oakland on Wednesday afternoon in a wild opening-round contest in the 2024 Horizon League Baseball Championship at Nischwitz Stadium in Dayton, Ohio.
The Penguins held a 9-3 advantage before the Golden Grizzlies struck for five runs in the bottom of the seventh to get within a single run. Oakland scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to take its first lead at 10-9 before YSU responded with a four-run ninth inning and held on for the opening-round tournament win.
Youngstown State advances into the winner's bracket to face top-seeded Wright State on Thursday at 11 a.m.
With the Guins trailing by a run in the top of the ninth inning, Trey Law hit a one-out single to put the tying run aboard. With the Penguins down to their final out, Alejandro Covas reached on an infield error that allowed Law to advanced to third. Ian Francis tied the contest with an RBI single through the left side and Matt Thompson walked to load the bases. Teddy Ruffner then delivered a scorching three-run double to left center that proved to be the difference. Nick Perez came on to work a scoreless bottom of the ninth to earn the save.
Francis set new career highs for hits and RBIs as he went 4-for-5 with a two-run home run and five RBIs. Covas went 3-for-5 with a triple and two RBIs while tying the single-game school and Horizon League Tournament record with five runs scored. The freshman outfielder is just the second Penguin since 2001 to score five runs in a game. Law and Thompson also had three hits apiece while RJ Sherwood hit his team-leading eighth home run of the season.
YSU starter Jacob Gehring allowed three runs on 11 hits with five strikeouts over five innings in a no-decision. Mitchell Seymour was responsible for four runs on two hits in one inning of work while Chris Domke was awarded the victory after permitting two runs in 1.2 innings of relief.
The Penguins quickly jumped in front with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Brett Stanley hit a one-out single and scored on Covas' 10th triple of the season as YSU struck first. Francis followed with an RBI single up the middle to plate Covas and give the Guins a 2-0 lead. YSU's lead grew to 3-0 in the top of the second inning when Sherwood belted a solo home run over the wall in left field.
Oakland got on the board with a single run in the bottom of the second inning. Lucas Day hit a leadoff double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single from John Lauinger.
The Penguins pushed their lead to 5-1 in the top of the third as Covas reached with a one-out single and Francis followed with a two-run home run to left field.
The Golden Grizzlies cut their deficit in half with two runs on four hits in the bottom of the third. Brandon Nigh hit a leadoff single, advanced to second on base hit from Ian Cleary and scored on Brandon Heidal's RBI single. Cleary then scored on an RBI single by Lauinger to pull Oakland within 5-3.
Youngstown State got its lead back to three runs with a single tally in the top of the fifth. Three consecutive walks loaded the bases with nobody out, and Covas raced home on a sacrifice fly from Ruffner to put the Guins in front 6-3.
The Penguins extended their lead to 9-3 with three runs on four hits in the top of the sixth inning. Sherwood reached on an error to begin the frame, and he was able to score on an infield single by Covas. Law, who reached with a single, scored on an RBI single to center field from Francis and Covas sprinted home on an infield single by Thompson.
Oakland got right back into the game with five runs on three hits and four walks in the bottom half of the seventh to pull within 9-8. Lauinger and Carter Hain each delivered run-scoring singles and Nigh drove home Hain with a sacrifice fly during the Golden Grizzlies' rally. Oakland took its first lead of the game in the bottom of the eighth when a pair of runs were able to score following a two-out single from pinch hitter Gavin Arseneau.
Oakland starter Tanner Ware surrendered five runs on eight hits over 3.1 innings as one of five pitchers to appear for the Golden Grizzlies. Aaron Evers suffered the loss after allowing four unearned runs on three hits in 1.1 innings of relief.
Lauinger went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored to pace Oakland offensively as the teams were even in the hit column with 16 apiece.
Youngstown State will face top-seeded Wright State on Thursday at 11 a.m. at Nischwitz Stadium in Dayton. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and YSNLive.com.
