Auburn, Ala. -- Braden Gebhardt recorded the most strikeouts in a game by a Penguin in nearly five years as part of a masterful Opening Day pitching performance, but the Youngstown State baseball team fell short 2-1 to the No. 5 Auburn Tigers in the 2026 season opener on Friday evening at Plainsman Park.
The Penguins got on the scoreboard first in the top of the fourth inning when Brady Shannon broke a scoreless tie with a towering solo home run over the left field wall. The Tigers drew even with an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth inning before adding another single run in the eighth inning to move in front.
Gebhardt was responsible for one unearned run on two hits while setting a new career high with 11 strikeouts over six innings on the mound. The senior left-hander posted the most strikeouts in a game by a Penguin since Collin Floyd fanned 12 batters against Milwaukee on April 9, 2021. Gebhardt recorded multiple punchouts in four different frames while fanning seven straight batters between the third and fifth innings.
Auburn starter Jake Marciano, who struck out the first five batters he faced, allowed one run on two hits with 12 strikeouts over five innings in a no-decision. Drew Whalen was awarded the win after tossing three scoreless innings of relief while Garrett Brewer came on to get the final three outs and record the save.
After Shannon's solo blast gave YSU a 1-0 edge in the fourth, Auburn evened the score with a single tally the home half of the fifth. Ethin Bingaman reached on a one-out error, advanced to second on error following a strikeout and scored on Chris Rembert's two-out RBI single to left field.
The Tigers scored the decisive go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth as Eric Guevara hit a leadoff double and was able to race home following a fielding error in the outfield on Chase Fralick's ensuing single through the right side.
Youngstown State got base runners to second and third with nobody out to threaten in the top of the ninth inning. Brewer entered out of the bullpen for Auburn and proceeded to record two strikeouts and a fly out to end the game.
YSU freshman infielder Misael Uriepero recorded the first hit of his collegiate career with a single in the top of the third inning.
Luke Zmolik suffered the loss after allowing one run on three hits over 1.1 innings of relief in his YSU debut while Sloan Ulrich came on to record the final two outs of the eighth inning.
The Penguins and Tigers will continue their three-game series on Opening Weekend on Saturday. First pitch at Plainsman Park is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast live on SEC Network+.
