Tysons, Va. -- Redshirt junior Brady Shannon hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to help send the Youngstown State baseball team to a 3-2 series-opening win over Georgetown on Friday afternoon at Capital One Park.
The Hoyas scored single unearned runs in the fourth and fifth innings to build a 2-0 edge before the Penguins started the top of the sixth with back-to-back singles from Nathan Beckley and Brayden Kuriger. Shannon followed by hitting the first pitch of his third at bat deep over the wall in center field to give YSU a decisive 3-2 advantage.
Three Youngstown State pitchers combined to limit Georgetown to a total of two unearned runs and five hits. Braden Gebhardt did not allow an earned run while scattering three hits and fanning seven batters over six innings on the mound to earn his first win of the season. Tyler Heflin worked a scoreless seventh before Sloan Ulrich came on to toss two scoreless frames and collect his first save.
Kuriger recorded a game-high three hits including a double while Nick Miscavage went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.
Georgetown broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning with a single unearned run. Connor Price hit a leadoff double and raced home when Ashtin Gilio reached on an error to give the Hoyas a 1-0 lead.
Georgetown plated another unearned run in the home half of the fifth to push its advantage to 2-0. Connor Peek reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored as the result of a YSU throwing error on Jeremy Sheffield's two-out infield single.
Youngstown State grabbed the lead with one swing of the bat in the top of the sixth inning. Beckley and Kuriger hit back-to-back singles and Shannon followed with his fourth home run of the season to put the Penguins in front 3-2.
Georgetown starter Kai Leckszas suffered the loss after surrendering three runs on eight hits with six strikeouts over six innings. Three different Hoya relievers combined to limit the Penguins to one hit over the final three frames.
Sheffield finished with two of Georgetown's five hits as YSU bested the Hoyas in the hit column, 9-5.
The Penguins and Hoyas are scheduled to continue their three-game series on Saturday. First pitch at Capital One Park is slated for 10 a.m.
