Akron, Ohio -- Akron scored the final four runs of the game to rally for an 8-6 victory over the Youngstown State baseball team on Tuesday at Canal Park.
The Penguins held a 6-3 lead before the Zips scored five runs over their last three at bats to rally back for the midweek non-conference win.
Tommy Rover went 2-for-4 with three RBIs while homering from each side of the plate to lead YSU offensively. Garrett Cutting also went yard while Cole Smith delivered an RBI double as the Guins were outhit by the Zips 13-5.
YSU starter Nolan Kubilus allowed three runs on four hits with three strikeouts over three innings. Phil Brennaman and Tyler Heflin were each responsible for a run in relief while Harun Pelja suffered the loss after surrendering three runs on three hits in his lone inning out of the bullpen.
The Penguins struck first in the top of the first inning on a solo home run to left field by Rover.
The Zips evened the score at 1-1 with a single run in the bottom of the first. Jack Poist hit a leadoff double, stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly from Andrew Horvath.
YSU regained a 2-1 lead in the top of the second when Cutting sent a solo home run to left field.
Akron scored twice in the bottom of the third to take a 3-2 advantage. Max Bowman drew a one-out walk and scored on third on an RBI bunt single by Caden Matlon while Horvath singled and scored on Austin Lafferty's RBI double.
The Guins went back in front 4-3 with two runs in the top of the fourth. Brayden Kuriger doubled and scored on Smith's RBI double while Smith raced home when Brady Shannon reached on a three-base error.
YSU's lead swelled to 6-3 in the top of the fifth as Jack Johnson drew a leadoff walk to set up Rover's second home run of the game.
The Zips pushed across a single run in the bottom of the fifth to cut YSU's lead to 6-4. Bowman hit a leadoff double and scored on Matlon's RBI single. Akron posted another single tally in the home half of the seventh to pull within 6-5. Matlon singled and came around to score on sacrifice fly from Derek Occhipint.
The Zips struck for three runs in the bottom of the eighth to regain an 8-6 lead. Will Heisler hit a leadoff single and Jack Poist walked before both runners advanced 90 feet on a double steal. Heisler was able to score on a sacrifice fly from Bowman while Poist scored on Horvath's RBI single to put Akron ahead 7-6. After Braden Gebhardt replaced Pelja on the mound, Lafferty greeted the left-hander with an RBI double to left center to account for the final margin.
Akron starter Dawson Tourney allowed four runs on four hits with four strikeouts over four innings. Sean Perkins was awarded the victory after tossing a scoreless eighth inning while Johnny Anservitz pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the save.
Youngstown State will conclude the regular season with a three-game Horizon League series at Northern Kentucky beginning on Thursday at 3 p.m. The Penguins and Norse will proceed to play on both Friday and Saturday at 1 p.m.
