The Youngstown State baseball team erased a seven-run deficit before falling 17-7 in a midweek non-conference contest at Pitt on Wednesday at Charles L. Cost Field in Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Panthers scored in each of their first three at bats to build a 7-0 lead after four innings. The Penguins posted a seven-run top of the fifth to tie the game before the Panthers scored the final 10 runs to pick up the midweek victory in eight innings.
Brayden Kuriger hit a game-tying two-out grand slam to highlight YSU's seven-run fifth inning. Garrett Cutting went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, Eli Brown added a pair of hits including a double and Jay Wrona doubled home a run for his first career RBI.
YSU starter Harun Pelja allowed five runs, two of which were earned, on two hits and three walks in one inning on the mound. Mark Henderson was responsible for two runs in 1.1 innings while Mikey Rodriques tossed 1.2 scoreless innings of relief. Gavin Wilms suffered the loss after giving up a pair of the runs in the fifth, Colin Casteel surrendered three runs on two innings out of the bullpen and Nate Ross permitted five runs while facing five batters.
Pitt plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning to jump in front. AJ Nessler and Ryan Zuckerman drew back-to-back walks before an RBI double from Luke Cantwell. Lorenzo Carrier then brought home Zuckerman with a sacrifice fly to the give the Panthers a 2-0 lead.
Pitt scored thee runs on a single hit in the second inning to push its lead to 5-0. Sebastian Pisacreta drew a leadoff walk and scored when Nessler was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Jake Kendro reached on an error and came around to score on a wild pitch before another sacrifice fly from Carrier scored the final run of the frame.
The Panthers increased their advantage to 7-0 with two runs on two hits in the home half of the third. Pisacreta hit a one-out solo home run while Kendro walked and scored on an RBI groundout by Nessler.
The Penguins responded by exploding for seven runs on six hits in the top of the fifth to even the score at 7-7. Brown hit a leadoff double and scored when Wrona followed with an RBI double to right center field. After back-to-back strikeouts, Brandon McClain-Banks reached with a two-out single and Cutting followed with an RBI double that plated Wrona. After a walk from Kyle Fossum and an infield single by Brady Shannon loaded the bases, Kuriger delivered a grand slam over the wall in right field to tie the contest.
Pitt regained the lead with a pair of two-out runs in the bottom of the fifth. Kendro reached with a two-out single and David Pedanou walked to set up a two-run triple to right center by Nessler that gave the Panthers a 9-7 edge. Pitt added a single tally in the bottom of the seventh as Pedanou hit a one-out triple and scored on an RBI single from Nessler. The Panthers added seven runs on five hits in the bottom of the eighth for the final margin.
Nessler finished the game 3-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored and seven RBIs to lead the Panthers offensively.
Pitt starter Aidan Coleman allowed seven runs on seven hits with six strikeouts over 4.2 innings. Matt Porter earned the victory after allowing one hit over 3.1 scoreless innings of relief.
The Penguins will play their 2025 home and Horizon League opener on Friday as part of a doubleheader against Milwaukee at Eastwood Field. Friday's doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. and live audio for both games will be available at YSNLive.com.
