The Youngstown State baseball team dropped a 14-4 decision to Eastern Michigan in non-conference play on Tuesday at Oestrike Stadium in Ypsilanti, Mich.
After scoring a single run in the bottom of the first inning, the Eagles went on to strike for multiple runs in each of the next three innings to build a 14-0 advantage. The Penguins pushed across four runs in the top of the sixth to produce the final margin.
Teddy Ruffner went 2-for-2 with a run scored while Eli Brown delivered a two-run double for the Penguins offensively.
YSU starter Phil Brennaman suffered the loss after allowing nine runs on three hits and four walks with three strikeouts over 2.2 innings while Colin Casteel was responsible for five runs on five hits in one inning out of the bullpen. Nate Ross recorded a pair of punchouts over 1.1 scoreless innings and Lane Rhodes worked a scoreless bottom of the sixth.
The Eagles got on the scoreboard in the home half of the first inning as Gianno Zuccaro drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Harrison Travis. EMU pushed its lead to 6-0 with a five-run second inning that was capped by a grand slam from Travis.
Cooper Vance's three-run homer in the third put the Eagles ahead 9-0, and a two-run blast from Devan Zirwas in the fourth made it an 11-0 advantage. EMU added three more runs in the fourth on its way to the seven-inning victory.
The Penguins scored all four of their runs in the top of the sixth as Cole Smith walked and scored when Jed Stange-Tregear reached on an error. Nic Goodwin drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk before Brown's two-out, two-run double to left center field.
EMU starter Fischer Hendershot had four strikeouts over two scoreless innings as the first of seven pitchers to appear for the Eagles. Nick Keane was awarded the victory after striking out two batters during a scoreless inning of relief.
The Penguins will be back in action on Wednesday for another non-conference contest at Kent State. First pitch at Olga Mural Field at Schoonover Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.
