The Youngstown State baseball team fell to Abilene Christian in both games of a doubleheader on Saturday at Crutcher Scott Field in Abilene, Texas. The Penguins dropped the series opener by a score of 6-0 before falling 11-9 in the nightcap.
Redshirt sophomore utility player Nathan Beckley totaled five combined hits over the two games for YSU as he went 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs in game two. The Guins cut a seven-run deficit down to two in the nightcap as they posted season highs with nine runs and 11 hits offensively.
Youngstown State falls to 0-5 on the season while Abilene Christian improves to 3-3.
Game 1 Recap
The Youngstown State baseball team dropped a 6-0 decision to Abilene Christian in game one of Saturday's doubleheader at Crutcher Scott Field.
The Wildcats scored once in the second and twice in the third before adding insurance with a two-run sixth inning and a single tally in the eighth.
Beckley went 2-for-3 to lead the Penguins offensively while Eli Brown was 1-for-3 with a double and a walk.
YSU starter Jacob Gehring took the loss after allowing three runs on six hits with three strikeouts over five innings. Aidan English was responsible for three runs on two hits with three punch outs over three innings out of the bullpen.
ACU struck in the bottom of the second inning as Maddox Miesse was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on a double by Reese Borho and scored on an RBI groundout from Ranse Radtke. The Wildcats pushed their lead to 3-0 with a pair of runs in the home half of the third. Zandt Payne drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Benjamin Greer. Nick Arias then brought home Greer with an RBI single down the right field line.
Abilene Christian increased its lead to 5-0 with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Miesse drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and came around to score on an error. Borho advanced to second on the error after being hit by a pitch, stole third and scored on an infield single by Payne. ACU's final run came in the eighth as Miesse drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on an infield single from Holden Rook.
ACU starter Dominick Reid earned the victory after allowing four hits and striking out six batters over 5.1 scoreless innings on the mound. Chandler Benson permitted two hits in 3.2 scoreless innings of relief.
Game 2 Recap
Abilene Christian jumped out to a 9-2 lead and held on for an 11-9 victory over the Youngstown State baseball team in game two of Saturday's doubleheader at Crutcher Scott Field.
The Penguins jumped in front 2-0 in the top of the first before the Wildcats scored the next nine runs of the contest. YSU struck for multiple runs in three straight frames from the fifth to the seventh while ACU posted single tallies in the fifth and sixth. The Guins chopped a seven-run deficit down to two as they outhit the Wildcats 11-7.
Beckley went 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs while Jack Johnson and Tommy Rover added two hits apiece. Rover and Fossum each drove in a pair of runs while Garrett Cutting doubled and scored three times.
YSU starter JJ Tylicki was the losing pitcher after allowing seven runs on two hits and six walks and striking out five batters. Brandon Mikos surrendered four runs on five hits with six strikeouts over 3.1 innings of relief in his season debut.
The Penguins got on the board first with two runs on two hits in the top of the first inning. Cutting drew a leadoff walk, advanced to third on a double by Cole Smith and scored on an RBI groundout by Fossum. Smith came around to score on a two-out RBI double from Beckley to give YSU a 2-0 lead.
The Wildcats responded by scoring four runs in the bottom of the second to move in front 4-2. Miesse hit a solo home run before a three-run triple to center field by Payne. ACU added five more runs in the home half of third to extend its lead to 9-2. Braden Regala drew a bases-loaded walk before Payne belted a two-out grand slam to right field.
YSU continued to battle as it scored three runs on four hits in the top of the fifth to cut ACU's lead to 9-5. Beckley recorded his fourth hit of the day with an RBI single while Rover delivered a two-out, two-run single.
Abilene Christian posted a single run in the bottom of the fifth as Borho hit a leadoff triple and scored on a sacrifice fly from Jack Nielsen.
The Penguins drew within 10-7 after scoring two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Cutting and Fossum each walked to set up a two-out, two-run double down the left field line by Beckley.
The Wildcats pushed their lead to 11-7 with a single tally in the seventh as Diego Cardenas hit a one-out double and scored on an RBI single by Sam Hardcastle.
Youngstown State cut its deficit in half with two more runs in the top of the seventh. Johnson drew a leadoff walk, Cutting followed with a double and Fossum brought both runners home with a two-out, two-run single to left field.
Junior left-hander Mark Henderson held the Wildcats at bay by tossing two scoreless innings of relief in the seventh and eighth with three strikeouts in his YSU debut. However, ACU reliever Brady Coe retired the Penguins in order in the top of the ninth to collect the save and secure the series victory for the Wildcats.
Abilene Christian starter Brett Lanman was awarded the victory after allowing two runs on four hits with five strikeouts over 3.1 innings on the mound. Coe did not allow a hit and registered three punch outs over two scoreless innings as the final of five relievers for the Wildcats.
Payne finished the game 2-for-4 with a triple, a grand slam and seven total RBIs to pace Abilene Christian offensively.
Youngstown State will close out its series at Abilene Christian with a single game on Sunday at noon ET.
