Dayton, Ohio -- The Youngstown State baseball team held off elimination by defeating Purdue Fort Wayne 12-10 in back-and-forth battle in the 2024 Horizon League Baseball Championship on Thursday night at Nischwitz Stadium.
The Penguins built a 6-0 advantage before the 'Dons rallied to take one-run lead with a seven-run third inning. YSU scored twice in the fourth to move back in front 8-7 before PFW evened the score with a single tally in the fifth. Purdue Fort Wayne posted a pair of runs in the sixth before YSU tied the game at 10-10 with two runs in the seventh. The Guins pushed across single runs in the eighth and ninth inning and held on to stave off elimination.
Youngstown State advances to face fourth-seeded Milwaukee in another elimination game on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.
Ian Francis went 4-for-5 a was a double shy of the cycle as he hit two home runs, drove in four runs and scored three times. The junior catcher became the first Penguin since Mike Turjanica in 2007 to homer twice in a Horizon League Tournament game.
Chase Franken went 3-for-5 with a two-run double while Trey Law, Brett Stanley and Matt Thompson had two hits apiece. All nine batters in YSU's lineup recorded a hit as the Penguins bested the Mastodons in the hit column 17-10.
YSU starter Brandon Mikos allowed eight runs on eight hits over 4.2 innings while Gavin Wilms was responsible for two runs in 1.1 innings out of the bullpen. Nick Perez came on to allow one hit with three strikeouts over three scoreless innings of relief to earn the win. The senior right-hander retired the first eight batters he faced as he sat down the 'Dons in order in the seventh and eighth innings.
The Penguins went in front immediately with three runs on three hits in the top of the first inning. Law drew a leadoff walk and Stanley singled to set a two-run triple to right center from Francis. Teddy Ruffner also delivered a two-out RBI single to plate Francis and give YSU a 3-0 lead.
YSU pushed its advantage to 6-0 with three more runs in the top of the third inning. Francis hit a solo home run before Franken came through with a two-run double to right center field.
The Mastodons exploded for seven runs on six hits in the bottom of the third inning to take a brief 7-6 lead. Purdue Fort Wayne grabbed the lead on a two-out, two-run home run by Cade Fitzpatrick.
The Penguins responded with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth to regain an 8-7 edge. Stanley drew a leadoff walk and Alejandro Covas followed with a two-run blast to left field.
Purdue Fort Wayne scored a single run on two hits in the bottom of the fifth inning to even the contest at 8-8. Grant Thoroman reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to third on a double by Ben Higgins and scored on an RBI groundout by Justin Osterhouse.
The 'Dons moved back in front with a pair of two-out runs in the bottom of the sixth. Nate Simpson and Jacob Walker drew back-to-back two-out walks, and Simpson raced home on a throwing error following a wild pitch. Walker was then able to score on an RBI double by Camden Karczewski to put PFW ahead 10-8.
The Guins tied the game with two runs in the top of the seventh inning. After Law reached with a two-out double, Staney hit a double of his own to right center and sprinted all the way home following an outfield error.
Youngstown State regained the upper hand in the top of the eighth with more two-out magic. Eli Brown and Franken hit back-to-back two-out singles, and Franken scored from third on RJ Sherwood's go-ahead RBI single to center field. The Penguins tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth as Francis belted his second homer of the game and third of the tournament over the wall in left field.
Purdue Fort Wayne starter Sean Kasper surrendered six runs on six hits over 2.1 innings in a no-decision. Kevin Fee suffered the loss after allowing three runs on eight hits in 4.1 innings of relief.
The Penguins will attempt to survive and advance once again on Friday when we face fourth-seeded Milwaukee in another elimination game at approximately 3 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and YSNLive.com.
