Fort Wayne, Ind. -- The Youngstown State baseball team exploded for 10 runs on six hits in the top of the sixth inning in route to a 16-7 series-clinching victory at Purdue Fort Wayne on Sunday afternoon at Mastodon Field.
The Mastodons scored twice in the bottom of the third to take a 2-0 edge before the Penguins erupted for 10 runs in the top of the sixth to gain the advantage. YSU earned its second consecutive Horizon League series win while improving to 12-31 overall and 9-12 in Horizon League play. Purdue Fort Wayne dropped to 8-34 overall and 6-14 in league competition.
Tommy Rover went 4-for-6 with a walk and two RBIs from the second spot in YSU's lineup while Kyle Fossum was 3-for-5 with two walks and three RBIs from the leadoff spot. Cole Smith went 3-for-6 with a three-run homer and drove in a season-high five runs while Jed Stange-Tregear went 2-for-4Â with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Caleb Hadley and Eli Brown added two hits apiece as the Penguins outhit the Mastodons 18-12.
YSU starter Brandon Mikos allowed six runs, five of them earned, on 11 hits with three strikeouts over six innings to earn his fourth win of the season. Harun Pelja was responsible for one run over three innings of relief to pick up his first save.
The Mastodons struck first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to take a 2-0 lead. Brooks Sailors and Camden Karczewski each singled to set up a two-out, two-run double by Jackson Micheels.
The Penguins registered six of their 18Â hits in the game during a decisive 10-run sixth inning. Hadley reached on an error to begin the inning and advanced to third on a pinch-hit double by Stange-Tregear. After Brown walked to load the bases, Fossum drew a walk of his own to force in YSU's first run of the game. Rover tied the game at 2-2 with an RBI infield single and Brayden Kuriger gave his team the lead with a sacrifice fly. Fossum came around to score on a wild pitch before Smith delivered a two-run single. Fossum added a two-out, two-run single, and Stange-Tregear scored on a wild pitch for the final run of the rally.
Purdue Fort Wayne pushed across two runs in the bottom of the sixth to shave YSU's lead to 10-4. Micheels hit a leadoff single, Kevin Hall followed with a double and both base runners raced home on a throwing error when Owen Willard reached on a fielder's choice.
Youngstown State pushed its lead to 14-4 with four runs in the top of the seventh. Smith belted a three-run home run to right field while Brown added an RBI single.
The Mastodons got back on the scoreboard with two runs in the bottom half of the seventh. Sailors hit a leadoff single and Osterhouse followed with a two-run home run to right field. Purdue Fort Wayne added a single tally in the eighth inning as Grant Sawa singled and scored on a sacrifice fly from Osterhouse.
Brown doubled, advanced to third on a single by Fossum and scored on a wild pitch in the top of the ninth. Fossum reached home plate on an RBI single by Rover for the final run of the contest.
PFW starter Gavin Walters permitted three hits and struck out six batters over 4.1 scoreless innings. Aidan Pearson was the losing pitcher after surrendering six runs on three hits and three walks in one inning out of the bullpen as one of six relievers to appear for the 'Dons.
The Penguins will return home on Friday to begin a three-game Horizon League series against Wright State. First pitch at Eastwood Field is scheduled for 6 p.m.
