The Youngstown State baseball team came up short against UTSA in both games of a doubleheader on Saturday at Roadrunner Field in San Antonio, Texas. The Penguins dropped the series opener by a score of 13-1 before falling 16-13 in the nightcap.
Brayden Kuriger went 4-for-5 with two doubles in game two while Nathan Beckley was 3-for-5 with a home run, a double and four RBIs. The Guins set new season highs as a team with 13 runs and 16 hits in the nightcap. Brady Shannon hit the first two home runs of his YSU career and drove in three runs in the second game of the twin bill. Kyle Fossum and Eli Brown added two hits and two RBIs apiece in game two as YSU outhit UTSA 16-14.
Youngstown State falls to 1-9 overall on the 2025 season while UTSA improves to 10-3.
Game 1 Recap
UTSA scored multiple runs in three of the first four innings on its way to a 13-1 victory over the Youngstown State baseball team in game one of Saturday's doubleheader at Roadrunner Field.
The Roadrunners struck for four runs in the bottom of the first before adding two runs in the third and six in the fourth to pull away for the seven-inning victory.
The Penguins scored their only run in the top of the seventh when Nic Goodwin reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to third on a single by Jay Wrona and scored on an RBI single from Kyle Fossum. YSU was limited to three hits, all of which came in the seventh inning. Wrona and Jed Stange-Tregear each recorded the first hit of their collegiate career.
YSU starter JJ Tylicki took the loss after allowing nine runs on eight hits with six strikeouts over 3.1 innings. Nate Ross was responsible for three runs on two hits while Lane Rhodes surrendered one run on two hits with three punch outs over 2.1 innings of work.
UTSA starter Braylon Owens earned the victory after striking out 10 batters without allowing a hit over 4.1 scoreless innings. Christian Okerholm permitted one run on three hits in 2.2 innings of relief.
Game 2 Recap
A seven-run seventh inning lifted UTSA to a 16-13 victory over the Youngstown State baseball team in game two of Saturday's doubleheader at Roadrunner Field.
The Penguins trailed 5-2 after four innings before posting six runs in the top of the fifth to gain an 8-5 lead. The Roadrunners scored the next three runs to even the score before the Guins went ahead 10-8 at the seventh inning stretch. UTSA hit three home runs including a grand slam during a seven-run seventh on the way to securing their ninth consecutive victory.
YSU starter Brandon Mikos allowed five runs on seven hits and four walks over four innings in his first start of the season. Harun Pelja permitted three runs on two hits and four walks in two innings out of the bullpen. Mark Henderson suffered the loss after giving up three runs while Phil Brennaman was responsible for four runs on four hits.
The Penguins went in front with two runs on three hits in the top of the first inning. Kuriger hit a leadoff single, stole second and scored on an RBI double to right center by Cole Smith. After Smith swiped third, Fossum brought him home with an RBI single to give YSU a 2-0 lead.
The Roadrunners evened the score with a pair of runs in the home half of the first inning. Caden Miller hit a leadoff single and Mason Lytle followed with an RBI double. Lorenzo Morresi's two-out RBI single plated Lytle to tie the contest at 2-2.
UTSA went ahead with another two-run inning in the bottom of the second. Jordan Ballin drew a leadoff walk, advanced to third on a double by Nathan Hodge and scored on an infield single from Andrew Stucky. Hodge later scored on a sacrifice fly from Lytle to give the home team a 4-2 advantage. The Roadrunners added a single run in the bottom of the fourth to push their lead to 5-2. Lytle hit a one-out double, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a two-out RBI single by Drew Detlefsen.
YSU shaved its deficit to 5-3 in the top of the fifth when Shannon led off the inning with his first home run as a Penguin. The Penguins proceeded to score six runs on six hits in the fifth to regain an 8-5 lead. Fossum drew a bases-loaded walk before back-to-back two-run doubles from Beckley and Brown.
UTSA pulled with a run at 8-7 with two runs on two hits in the bottom of the fifth. Ballin drew a one-out walk and scored from third on a one-out RBI single by Miller. Lytle followed by driving home another run with a sacrifice fly. The Roadrunners evened the score at 8-8 with an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth as Detlefsen was hit by a pitch and came around to scored on a throwing error.
The Penguins moved back in front 10-8 in the top of the seventh when Fossum hit a leadoff single and Beckley followed with his first home run as a Penguin.
The Roadrunners responded with a seven-run seventh as the lead changed hands again. A double and two hit batters loaded the bases before Henderson handed the ball to Brennaman out of the bullpen. Detlefsen greeted the Penguin right-hander with a grand slam to right center on an 0-2 pitch to give UTSA the lead. A two-out, two-run homer from Hodge later in the frame extended the advantage, and Stucky added a solo blast to give his team a 15-10 edge. The Roadrunners added an insurance run in the eighth.
Youngstown State continued to battle with three runs in the eighth for the final margin. Shannon belted a two-run home run for his second blast of the contest.
Lytle went 3-for-4 with three doubles, three RBIs and three runs scored while Detlefsen finished the game 2-for-3 with a grand slam and six RBIs. Nathan Hodge added three hits including a home run while driving in three runs and scoring three times.
UTSA starter Sam Simmons allowed five runs on seven hits over 4.1 innings in a no-decision. Mike DeBattista was awarded the win after surrendering five runs on five hits in 2.2 innings of relief. Kendall Dove was responsible for three runs on four hits with four strikeouts over the final two frames.
The Penguins and Roadrunners will conclude their four-game series on Sunday with a single game at noon ET. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
