The Youngstown State baseball team split a Horizon League doubleheader with Purdue Fort Wayne on Sunday that lasted more than eight hours on a marathon day at Eastwood Field. The Penguins rallied from seven runs down to win game one 12-11 before falling 20-16 in the nightcap and series finale.
Kyle Fossum totaled seven hits, four RBIs and five runs scored in 11 at bats on the day to lead YSU's offensive attack. The senior right fielder from Seattle, Wash., went 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored in game one before going 4-for-7 with a three-run home run and three runs scored in game two. Fossum was a triple shy of the cycle in the nightcap while matching his career high with four hits.
Youngstown State finishes the weekend at 4-18 overall and 2-4 in Horizon League play while Purdue Fort Wayne is now 3-18 overall and 2-4 in league action.
Game 1 Recap
The Youngstown State baseball team scored nine runs over its final three at bats to overcome a seven-run deficit and defeat Purdue Fort Wayne 12-11 in game one of Sunday's doubleheader at Eastwood Field.
The Penguins trailed 10-3 after the top of the sixth inning before striking twice in the sixth, six times in the seventh and once in the eighth on their way to evening the three-game series with Mastodons.
Fossum went 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI while Garrett Cutting was 3-for-4 with an RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases. Brayden Kuriger, Tommy Rover and Jay Wrona each drove in a pair of runs.
YSU starter JJ Tylicki allowed seven runs, four of them earned, on three hits and eight walks over 3.1 innings on the mound. Aidan English permitted three runs over two innings of relief while Colin Casteel was responsible for one run with three strikeouts over 2.1 innings. Braden Gebhardt, who recorded the final out in the top of the eighth, retired the side in order in the ninth to secure the win for the Penguins.
The Mastodons pushed across a pair of runs on two hits in the top of the first inning to grab an early 2-0 lead. Brooks Sailors reached on an infield single, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on Jackson Micheel's RBI single to right field. Sage Adams walked, advanced to third on the single from Micheels and scored on a wild pitch.
Purdue Fort Wayne added a single run in the top of the third to push its lead to 3-0. Adams drew a leadoff walk, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch.
The Penguins evened the score with a three-run bottom of the third. Fossum hit a leadoff double and scored on a sacrifice fly from Cole Smith for YSU's first run. Rover walked and scored on a throwing error while Nathan Beckley walked and scored on Cutting's RBI single.
The Mastodons loaded the bases on two walks and an error in the top of the fourth inning. Justin Osterhouse put the 'Dons back in front with an RBI single before Adams drove in a run with an RBI groundout. After Tylicki gave way to English out of the bullpen, Camden Karczewski hit a two-out, two-run single to give Purdue Fort Wayne a 7-3 advantage.
The 'Dons extended their lead to 10-3 with three runs on three hits in the top of the sixth. Adams drew a leadoff walk and scored on a bunt single by Karczewski. After English departed, Augusto Schroeder greeted Casteel with a two-run single to center field.
The Guins pulled within 10-5 with two runs in the home half of the sixth inning. Three walks loaded the bases before Rover and Kuriger were each hit by a pitch to force in a pair of runs.
Youngstown State would strike for six runs on four hits in the home half of the seventh to take its first lead of the game at 11-10. Beckley drew a leadoff walk before back-to-back singles from Cutting and Brady Shannon loaded the bases. Wrona drew a bases-loaded walk before Caleb Hadley drove in a run when he reached on a fielder's choice. Fossum followed with an RBI double, and another run crossed the plate when Rover reached on an error. Fossum would score from third on a balk, and Kuriger plated Rover with an RBI triple to right field.
The Mastodons posted a single tally in the top of the eighth to even the score again. Schroeder reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and scored on a two-out RBI single from Osterhouse.
The Penguins scored the decisive, go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth to move in front 12-11. Cutting hit a leadoff single, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly from Wrona.
PFW starter Zane Danielson allowed three runs on four hits with five strikeouts over five innings of work. Cole Newell, who was one of four relievers to appear for the 'Dons, suffered the loss after allowing the go-ahead run in the eighth inning.
Game 2 Recap
Purdue Fort Wayne scored 11 runs in the top of the third inning on its way to defeating the Youngstown State baseball team 20-16 in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader at Eastwood Field.
The Penguins battled their way back into the contest after trailing 11-1 after three innings. YSU scored multiple runs in five of its last six at bats while posting season highs of 16 runs and 19 hits.
Fossum finished 4-for-7 with a three-run home run and was a triple shy of the cycle. Beckley went 3-for-5 with a game-high four RBIs while Jack Johnson and Kuriger added three hits and two RBIs apiece.
YSU starter Tyler Heflin took the loss after surrendering seven runs on six hits in two innings as one of eight pitchers to appear for the Penguins.
The Penguins scored first in the bottom of the first inning as Fossum hit a leadoff single and came around to score on an RBI single by Beckley.
The Mastodons answered with 11 runs on eight hits and two errors in the top of the third to build an 11-1 advantage. Osterhouse, Schroeder, Adams, Micheels and Helton each recorded a run-scoring hit during Purdue Fort Wayne's rally.
Youngstown State continued to fight by scoring five runs on five hits in the bottom of the fourth. Cutting drew a leadoff walk and scored on Eli Brown's RBI single while Shannon singled and scored on a throwing error. Brown would score from third on a wild pitch before a two-run single by Beckley cut Purdue Fort Wayne's lead to 11-6.
The 'Dons added a pair of runs in the top half of the sixth to push their edge to 13-6. Drew Helton hit a one-out single and scored on an RBI double by Schroeder while Brooks Sailors walked and scored on a wild pitch.
The Penguins got back on the board with two runs on two hits in the bottom of the sixth to shave the Mastodons' lead to 13-8. Fossum hit a leadoff double and scored two batters later on Kuriger's RBI single. Rover walked and scored on a sacrifice fly by Beckley.
After the Mastodons scored four times in the top of the seventh, the Guins answered with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame. Cutting drew a leadoff walk and Johnson reached with a two-out single to set up Fossum's three-run homer over the left field wall. Rover reached on an error and scored on an RBI double to right center by Kuriger.
Youngstown State plated two runs in the bottom of the eighth to answer two runs from Purdue Fort Wayne in the top half of the inning. Cutting singled and Brown doubled before a two-run single to left from Johnson made it a 19-14 margin heading to the ninth.
The 'Dons were able to push across a single run in the top of the ninth to take a 20-14 edge. The Penguins threatened by bringing the potential tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth. Kuriger walked and scored on a wild pitch while Beckley singled and scored when Shannon reached on an error. Fossum came to the plate with the bases loaded but PFW reliever Carson Caudill included a flyout to center field to end the game.
Purdue Fort Wayne starter Sean Kasper allowed four runs on six hits over three innings. Carter Orner, the first of three relievers for the Mastodons, was awarded the victory after permitting four runs on five hits in 2.1 innings of relief.
The Penguins will begin a four-game road swing on Tuesday with a non-conference contest at Bowling Green. First pitch at Steller Field in Bowling Green is scheduled for 3 p.m.
