Niles, Ohio -- Kyle Fossum hit his 20th home run of the season and Brandon Mikos did not allow an earned run over seven innings on the mound as the Youngstown State baseball team earned a 4-1 series-clinching victory over Oakland on Sunday afternoon at Eastwood Field.
On Senior Day for the YSU baseball program, the Penguins honored 10 senior student-athletes during a special ceremony prior to their final game at Eastwood Field.
Fossum, one of the seniors recognized before first pitch, hit the first pitch of the bottom of the first inning deep over the wall in left field to give the Guins an early 1-0 lead. Brady Shannon hit his second home run in as many days in bottom of the eighth after the Golden Grizzlies pulled within 2-1, and Tommy Rover added an RBI double later in the inning for the final margin.
Mikos scattered four hits while allowing one unearned run and matching career highs with seven strikeouts and seven innings pitched. The junior right-hander retired 12 straight batters at one point as he sat down the Golden Grizzlies in order in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Aidan English came out of the bullpen to toss two scoreless frames and collect his first save of the season.
Fossum went 2-for-5 with two runs scored from the leadoff spot while Rover added two hits including an RBI double from the second spot in YSU's lineup. Cole Smith doubled and walked twice while Nathan Beckley singled and scored a run.
Fossum's added to his YSU single-season school record with his league-leading 20th home run of the 2025 season in the home half of the first inning. YSU added another single run in the bottom of the sixth as Beckley hit a leadoff single and scored from third on a wild pitch.
Oakland posted a single tally in the top of the eighth as Trent Rice reached on a fielder's choice and scored on Taylor Tomlin's RBI single up the middle.
Youngstown State pushed its advantage to 4-1 with a pair of runs in the home half of the eighth. Shannon led off the inning with a towering solo blast to left field while Fossum reached on a fielder's choice and scored Rover's two-out RBI double down the right field line.
Oakland starter Tanner Ware allowed two runs on five hits and four walks over five innings in a losing effort. Ethan Glassman was responsible for two runs on two hits out of the bullpen.
The Penguins will play their final non-conference game of the regular season against Akron on Tuesday. First pitch at Canal Park in downtown Akron is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. and the game will be broadcast live on the Zips Digital Network and YSNLive.com.
