Fort Wayne, Ind. -- Senior outfielder Kyle Fossum broke Youngstown State's single-season home run record as the Youngstown State baseball team earned a 13-6 series-opening win at Purdue Fort Wayne on Saturday afternoon at Mastodon Field.
The Penguins won their third straight Horizon League contest in a game that spanned two different dates on the calendar. The series opener began on Friday at noon before being delayed by inclement weather for more than two hours in the middle of the fifth inning. The game resumed until more heavy rainfall in the top of the eighth inning caused a suspension until Saturday at 1 p.m.
Leading 9-6 when the game restarted on Saturday, the Penguins went on to add four insurance runs in the top of the ninth to pull away. Youngstown State improved to 11-30 overall and 8-11 in Horizon League play while Purdue Fort Wayne dropped to 7-33 overall and 5-13 against league opponents.
Fossum wasted no time in putting the Penguins on the scoreboard as he hit the first pitch of the game over the wall in right center field to become YSU's single-season home run king. The Seattle, Wash., native surpassed the previous record of 17 that was set by Andrew Kendrick in 2017. Fossum finished the contest 3-for-3 with three RBIs and was a triple shy of the cycle while walking twice and scoring three times.
Cole Smith went 3-for-5 with a three-run homer, four RBIs and three runs scored while Brayden Kuriger singled, walked three times and drove in three runs. Tommy Rover added a pair of RBIs from the second spot in the lineup as YSU outhit Purdue Fort Wayne 13-8.
YSU starter Jacob Gehring surrendered four runs on five hits over four innings on the mound. Braden Gebhardt was awarded the victory after allowing two runs on three hits over three innings while Mikey Rodriques fanned five batters over two scoreless innings of relief to pick up the save.
YSU added to its lead with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning. Smith hit a one-out single, Nathan Beckley drew a two-out walk and Eli Brown loaded the bases with a bunt single. Fossum then delivered a two-run single through the left side that plated Smith and Beckley to give the Penguins a 3-0 edge.
Purdue Fort Wayne evened the score with three runs on three hits in the bottom of the third inning. Sage Adams was hit by a pitch and Brooks Sailors singled before Justin Osterhouse sent a two-run triple to right center. Camden Karczewski followed with an RBI single to tie the game at 3-3.
The Mastodons took a 4-3 lead with a single run in the home half of the fourth. Kevin Hall hit a leadoff single and came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Adams.
Youngstown State answered with a four-run top of the fifth inning to regain a 7-4 advantage. Fossum doubled and scored on Rover's RBI single before Smith belted a two-out, three-run home run to put the Guins back in front.
Purdue Fort Wayne cut YSU's lead to 7-6 with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the fifth. Karczewski hit a leadoff single, advanced third on a double by Jackson Micheels and scored on a sacrifice fly from Owen Willard. Micheels raced home from third on an infield single by Hall to bring the 'Dons within a run.
The Penguins posted a single tally in the seventh as Jay Wrona singled, advanced to third on a single by Garrett Cutting and scored on a sacrifice fly from Smith. Kuriger drew a bases-loaded walk in the top of the eighth to put YSU ahead 9-6 before the game was suspended.
PFW starter Tyson Greenwood allowed three runs on four hits over two innings on the mound. Zane Danielson suffered the loss after being responsible for four runs on four hits over three innings out of the bullpen.
The Penguins and Mastodons will proceed to play game two of the their three-game Horizon League series on Saturday afternoon. Live audio will be available at YSNLive.com.
