The Youngstown State baseball team scored five two-out runs during a furious ninth-inning rally but came up short to Wright State 10-9 in the Horizon League series opener on Friday at Nischwitz Stadium in Dayton, Ohio.
The Penguins trailed 4-1 before scoring once in the fourth and twice in the fifth to tie the contest. The Raiders went back in front with a pair of runs in the fifth and added four runs in the sixth to take 10-4 edge into the ninth inning.
Jay Wrona ignited YSU's five-run ninth inning with a one-out single and advanced to third on Kyle Fossum's single to center field. Tommy Rover plated Wrona with a two-out RBI single through the right side to prompt a pitching change for Wright State. Nathan Beckley greeted Raider reliever Garrett Peters with a two-run double down the left field line to cut the deficit to 10-7. Cole Smith and Brady Shannon followed with back-to-back RBI doubles to put the potential tying run into scoring position. Peters was able to strike out pinch hitter Brayden Kuriger to end the game and give the Raiders the series-opening victory.
Youngstown State falls to 4-20 overall and 2-5 in Horizon League play while Wright State improves to 12-11 overall and 6-1 against league opponents.
Shannon went 3-for-5 with an RBI double, two stolen bases and two runs scored while Fossum was 2-for-5 with his 10th home run of the season. Wrona went 2-for-4 with an RBI double while Rover and Jack Johnson each added RBI singles.
YSU starter Jacob Gehring suffered the loss after allowing six runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and three walks over 4.2 innings. Braden Gebhardt surrendered four runs on three hits with five strikeouts over 3.1 innings of relief.
The Raiders jumped ahead 2-0 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. Hunter Warren hit a one-out single and Patrick Fultz followed with a two-run home run to left center field.
The Penguins cut their deficit in half with a single tally in the top of the second inning. Shannon singled, stole second and scored on a two-out RBI double by Wrona.
Wright State pushed its lead to 4-1 with two more runs in the home half of the second. Conlan Daniel and Will Cook each walked and both runners scored on a two-run single up the middle from Luke Arnold.
Youngstown State got another single run in the top of the fourth inning to cut Wright State's lead to 4-2. Shannon singled, stole second, advanced to third on a single by Garrett Cutting and scored on Johnson's two-out RBI single.
The Penguins evened the score in the top of the fifth when Eli Brown drew a leadoff walk and Fossum followed with a towering two-run home run to left center field.
The Raiders regained a 6-4 advantage with two runs on two hits in the bottom of the fifth. Boston Smith led off the frame with a solo home run while Warren singled and scored on an RBI groundout by Cam Gilkerson.
Wright State increased its lead to 10-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning. Arnold hit a one-out single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on Warren's two-out RBI single. After Fultz drew a two-out walk, JP Peltier hit a three-run homer to left field.
Wright State starter Mychal Grogan allowed two runs on five hits over four innings of work in a no-decision. Warren Hartzell was awarded the win after permitting five runs on four hits over 4.2 innings out of the bullpen.
The Penguins and Raiders will conclude their three-game Horizon League series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon. Live audio for both games will be available at YSNLive.com.
