Highland Heights, Ky. -- The Youngstown State baseball team suffered a 5-4 loss to Northern Kentucky on Sunday afternoon in the finale of a three-game Horizon League series at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex.
The Penguins scored twice in the top of the first inning before the Norse responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the third. NKU went ahead 3-2 in the sixth before YSU evened the score at 3-3 with a single run in the top of the seventh. The Norse regained a 5-3 lead by scoring twice in the bottom half of the seventh and held on to complete the three-game series sweep.
Garrett Cutting went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and an RBI while Misael Uriepero singled, walked and scored a run for the Penguins offensively. YSU and NKU finished even in the hit column with six apiece.
YSU starter Brandon Mikos allowed three runs on four hits with a season-high six strikeouts and four walks over 5.1 innings pitched in a no-decision. Jake Ferretti recorded two outs as the first of three relievers for appear for the Penguins. Griffin Almond was responsible for two runs while recording one out in the seventh, and Brevin Smith had two strikeouts in 1.2 scoreless innings of relief.
The Penguins took an early 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Alex Jang and Nathan Beckley drew back-to-back walks before an infield single from Brayden Kuriger loaded the bases. Brady Shannon walked with the bases loaded to plate Jang and Cutting followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home Beckley.
The Norse evened the score with two runs on four hits in the bottom of the third inning. Jackson Wang hit a one-out double and scored on an RBI single from Pierce Bauerle. After advancing to second on a wild pitch, Bauerle scored on a two-out RBI single by Josh Williams.
Northern Kentucky gained its first lead at 3-2 with a single tally in the home half of the sixth inning. Hunter Friedberg reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and third and scored on a wild pitch to put the Norse in front.
YSU evened the contest at 3-3 with a single run in the top of the seventh inning. Uriepero was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a flyout and scored on a wild pitch.
The Norse regained the advantage with two runs on two hits in the bottom of the seventh inning. Bauerle and Jake Paulick were each hit by a pitch before a bunt single from Williams loaded the bases. Paulick moved to third base when Marcus Harrison reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a wild pitch. After YSU's second pitching change of the inning, Ethan Thomas drove in Williams from third with an RBI single to give NKU a 5-3 lead.
YSU's final run of the game came in the top of the eighth as Shannon was hit by a pitch and scored from second on a two-out RBI single from Ryan Schummer.
Luke Rossi delivered a pinch-hit leadoff double for the Penguins in the top of the ninth inning to put the potential tying run in scoring position. The Norse were able to retire the lead runner on back-to-back fielder's choices before Jared Teke came out of the bullpen to induce a game-ending flyout.
NKU starter Elijah Green surrendered two runs on two hits with six strikeouts and four walks over five innings. Tannis Lange, the first of four NKU relievers to appear in the contest, was awarded the win after permitting one run over two innings of relief while Teke collected the save.
Youngstown State will return to non-league play with a midweek contest at Akron on Tuesday. First pitch at Skeeles Field in Akron is scheduled for 2 p.m.
