The Youngstown State baseball team suffered a 17-5 non-conference setback to Bowling Green on Wednesday at Eastwood Field.

The Falcons went ahead quickly with two runs in the top of the first before posting seven runs in the top of the third to gain control of the game. BGSU added five runs in the fourth to build a 14-0 edge before YSU scored all five of its runs in the home half of the sixth. The Falcons tacked on three runs in the top of the seventh for the final margin.

Bowling Green improves to 22-9 overall on the season while Youngstown State falls to 7-24.

Tommy Rover, Brady Shannon and Nic Goodwin recorded two hits apiece while Teddy Ruffner delivered a two-run double for the Guins, who outhit the Falcons 12-10.

YSU starter Harun Pelja took the loss after allowing two runs on a single hit in two innings on the mound. Lane Rhodes tossed 1.1 scoreless innings while Nate Ross pitched a scoreless inning of relief as two of six relievers to appear for the Penguins.

The Falcons struck first with two runs in the top of the first inning. TJ Takats drew a leadoff walk and Sam Seidel followed with a two-run home run to right field to give BGSU a 2-0 lead.

The Penguins loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning, but BGSU starter Logan Bell was able to work out of the jam to keep YSU off the scoreboard.

Bowling Green pushed its lead to 9-0 with seven runs on four hits in the top of the third inning. Takats was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame, and Seidel brought him home from first base with an RBI double. Seidel scored on an RBI single from Zack Horky while Garrett Wright reached on an error and scored on when Gunner Antillon walked with the bases loaded. Carter Mottice brought in a pair of runs with a two-run double and Takats drove in the final run of the rally with an RBI groundout.

The Falcons pushed across five runs in the top of the fourth to extend their advantage to 14-0. Horky walked and scored on an RBI double by Mottice while Atillon singled and came around to score on a wild pitch. Mottice raced home on Brayden Curlis' RBI single, and Curlis crossed home plate on a sacrifice fly from Wright. Cooper McKenzie drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the final run of the inning.

Youngstown State posted five runs on six hits in the bottom of the sixth to cut BGSU's lead to 14-5. Ruffner, Brady Shannon and Tommy Rover each delivered a run-scoring hit while Brayden Foster drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Bowling Green responded with three runs in the top of the seventh to increase its lead to 17-5. McKenzie hit a solo home run to begin the frame and Curlis added a two-run double.

Youngstown State will continue its four-game homestand at Eastwood Field on Friday when it opens a three-game Horizon League series against Northern Kentucky at 6 p.m. Friday's series opener features a special "Pack Eastwood" promotion presented by Key Kutterz and 21 WFMJ with free admission and YSU rally towels for the first 150 fans. There will also be a YSU key chain giveaway courtesy of Key Kutterz.