Dayton, Ohio -- The fourth-seeded Youngstown State baseball team had its 2025 season come to an end after a 22-18 loss in 10 innings to fifth-seeded Oakland in a wild #HLBASE Championship elimination game on Thursday night at Nischwitz Stadium.
Oakland plated four runs in the top of the first to take an early lead before YSU scored the next five runs to take its first lead. The two teams proceeded to trade runs as they played to a 10-10 tie after five innings. The Penguins scored once in the sixth and five times in the seventh to build a 16-10 advantage before the Golden Grizzlies used a six-run eighth inning to even the score once again.
After Oakland went ahead 17-16 with one run in the top of the ninth, Nathan Beckley kept YSU alive with a towering game-tying solo home run with two outs in the bottom half of the inning. The Golden Grizzlies responded by scoring five runs in the top of the 10th to advance to play second-seeded Northern Kentucky in another elimination game on Friday. Thursday night's back-and-forth affair featured 40 combined runs and 31 total hits while lasting more than five hours.
Kyle Fossum went 4-for-4 with four RBIs, three walks and four runs scored while setting a new Horizon League single-season record with his 23rd home run of the 2025 campaign. The senior slugger from Seattle, Wash., also set new YSU single-season school records for runs scored and RBIs during the contest to cap one of the most prolific seasons at the plate in program history.
Brayden Kuriger matched his season and career high with four hits including a home run while driving in two runs and scoring four times. Beckley concluded his scorching Horizon League Tournament by going 3-for-5 with a home run, two doubles and six RBIs. Eli Brown registered two hits including a double and scored four runs while Brady Shannon added a solo home run and two runs scored.
YSU starter Colin Casteel allowed four runs, three of which were earned, on two hits while recording one out. Aidan English and Sloan Ulrich were each responsible for three runs on three hits in 2.1 innings of relief while Nolan Kubilus surrendered five runs over 2.1 innings. JJ Tylicki suffered the loss after allowing four runs in 1.2 innings out of the bullpen.
The Golden Grizzlies jumped in front quickly with four runs in the top of the first inning. Trent Rice hit a leadoff single, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error and scored on a sacrifice fly from Matthew McGann for the game's first run. Taylor Tomlin walked and scored from third when Carter Hain drew a free pass with the bases loaded while Brandon Nigh singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jack Lux. John Lauinger was hit by a pitch and came around to score following a throwing error when Hain stole second to give Oakland an early 4-0 advantage.
The Penguins cut their deficit in half with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Fossum drew a leadoff walk, Kuriger prolonged the inning with a two-out single and both baserunners scored on Beckley's two-out, two-run double.
Youngstown State took its first lead of the night at 5-4 with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Shannon walked and Brown doubled to set up Fossum's mammoth, record-breaking three-run blast to left field.
The Golden Grizzlies countered YSU's three-run second inning with three runs of their own in the top of the third. Nigh and Lauinger drew back-to-back walks, advanced 90 feet on a double steal and scored on Hain's two-run single. Hain would eventually score on Rice's RBI single to give Oakland a 7-5 edge.
The Penguins drew within 7-6 in the bottom of the third as Kuriger led off the inning with his eighth home run of the season to right field.
Oakland got the run back immediately in the top of the fourth inning as McGann hit a solo home run to put his team ahead 8-6.
YSU responded with another three-run inning in the bottom of the fourth to move back in front 9-8. Tommy Rover and Kuriger each walked with the bases loaded while Fossum walked and scored when Beckley reached on a fielder's choice to put the Guins back on top.
The lead changed hands again as the Golden Grizzles pushed across two runs in the top of the fifth to take a 10-9 edge. Lux hit a leadoff single and scored on RBI double by Sam Griffith while Ben Clark walked and sprinted home from third when Tomlin reached on an infield error.
The Penguins evened the score at 10-10 in the bottom of the fifth when Shannon sent a solo home run, his 10th of the season, over the wall in right field. YSU regained the upper hand with another single run in the sixth as Kuriger singled and Beckley followed with an RBI double.
Youngstown State extended its lead to 16-10 with five runs on four hits in the home half of the seventh inning. Cole Smith delivered a two-run single, Kuriger singled and scored on a sacrifice fly from Beckley and two baserunners raced home following a wild pitch and an ensuring error.
Oakland erupted for six runs in the top of the eighth to tie the game at 16 runs apiece. Lauinger brought home the first run of the frame with an RBI infield single, Hain cleared the bases with a three-run triple and two runs scored on wild pitches.
The Golden Grizzlies regained a 17-16 lead in the top of the ninth as Aidan Schuck hit a leadoff single and came around to score on a passed ball for the go-ahead run.
Down to his final strike in the bottom of the ninth, Beckley belted a 2-2 pitch deep over the right field wall to even the score again and force extra innings.
Oakland scored five runs on three hits during a decisive five-run top of the 10th to secure a 22-17 lead. Brown was hit by a pitch and scored on Fossum's RBI single in the bottom half of the 10th for the final margin.
Oakland starter Tanner Ware surrendered six runs on five hits over 2.1 innings in a no-decision. Brody Fahnestock picked up the win after allowing two runs over three innings as the last of five relievers to appear for the Golden Grizzlies.
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