Franklin, Wis. -- The Youngstown State baseball team earned the Horizon League series win by sweeping a doubleheader at Milwaukee on Friday at Franklin Field.
The Penguins rallied from a three-run deficit in each game on Friday to collect their first series victory of the season and improve to 3-5 in Horizon Legue play. YSU opened the series with a 5-3 win in game one before charging back for a 7-4 victory in the nightcap.
Game 1 Recap
Youngstown State scored five runs over the final three innings to rally from 3-0 deficit and defeat Milwaukee 5-3 in game one of Friday's Horizon League doubleheader at Franklin Field.
The Panthers scored once in the fourth and twice in the fifth to build a 3-0 lead before the Penguins posted four runs in the top of the seventh to move ahead 4-3. YSU tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth to produce the final margin in the series opener.
Alex Jang went 3-for-5 at the plate with a triple and a run scored from the leadoff spot while Nathan Beckley had two hits and drove in three runs from the cleanup spot in YSU's lineup. Garrett Cutting, Brayden Kuriger and Misael Uriepero added two hits apiece as the Penguins outhit the Panthers, 13-8.
YSU starter Braden Gebhardt allowed three runs on six hits with five strikeouts and two walks over six innings to earn his second victory of the season. Braedon Davis, Jake Ferretti, Tyler Heflin and Bryce Palms combined to toss two scoreless innings of relief before Sumner Estes worked a scoreless ninth to collect his first save.
The Panthers broke a scoreless tie with a single run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Dominic Kibler hit a leadoff single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single from Bradyn Horn.
Milwaukee pushed its lead to 3-0 with a pair of runs in the home half of the fifth inning. Christian Holmes hit a leadoff triple and scored when Tate Schmidt reached on a fielder's choice. Grant Ross walked, stole second and scored from third when Schmidt was caught attempting to swipe second.
The Penguins rallied with four runs on three hits and two Milwaukee errors in the top of the seventh inning to take a 4-3 lead. Beckley's two-out, two-run single and an ensuing error in the outfield allowed three runs to score before Cutting's RBI single plated Beckley to give YSU the one-run advantage.
Youngstown State added an insurance run in the top of the ninth as Uriepero singled, advanced to second on a base hit from Luke Rossi and scored on Beckley's RBI single to center field.
Milwaukee starter Gavin Theis was responsible for two unearned runs on seven hits with five strikeouts over 6.1 innings in a no-decision. Lucas Watson suffered the loss after allowing a pair of unearned runs while recording one out in the seventh inning.
Game 2 Recap
Youngstown State scored in five consecutive innings to overcome a three-run deficit and defeat Milwaukee 7-4 to complete the doubleheader sweep on Friday at Franklin Field.
The Panthers were ahead 3-0 after one inning and 4-1 after two frames before the Penguins scored the final six runs of the contest in route to earning the series victory. YSU scored at least one run in five straight innings from the second to the sixth before adding an insurance run in the eighth.
Ryan Schummer went 3-for-4 at the plate while Beckley doubled and drove in two runs. Kuriger singled, walked and scored twice while Brady Shannon homered and drove in a pair of runs for the Penguins offensively.
YSU starter Jack Messmore earned his first win of the season after allowing four runs on eight hits with three strikeouts while matching his season high of 6.1 innings pitched. Sloan Ulrich tossed 1.1 scoreless innings of relief before Brevin Smith retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth to pick up his first save.
The Panthers jumped in front quickly with three runs on four hits in the bottom of the first inning. Horn delivered a two-out, two-run double before Charlie Marion followed with an RBI single.
The Penguins got on the scoreboard with a single tally in the top of the second inning. Kuriger was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on Schummer's single and scored on a sacrifice fly from Shannon.
Milwaukee got the run back in the home half of the second inning as Cade Palkowski reached with a one-out single, advanced to third on a single from Ross and scored on a sacrifice fly by Max Glusick to give the Panthers a 4-1 edge.
Youngstown State cut Milwaukee's lead to 4-2 with another single run in the top of the third. Rossi reached with a two-out single and Beckley followed with an RBI double to left field. The Penguins pushed across another single run in the top of the fourth when Shannon belted his seventh home run of the season.
YSU evened the score at 4-4 by scoring one run for the fourth straight inning in the top of the fifth. Uriepero hit a leadoff single, stole second and scored from third on a sacrifice fly from Beckley.
The Penguins scored for the fifth consecutive inning and took their first lead of the contest with two runs in the top of the sixth. Kuriger walked and scored on a wild pitch while Schummer singled and scored when Jang reached on a fielder's choice to give YSU a 6-4 advantage.
Youngstown State increased its lead by scoring once in the top of the eighth inning. Schummer hit a leadoff single and was replaced by pinch runner James Carlson, who stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Nic Goodwin brought home Carlson from third with an RBI sacrifice bunt to give the Guins a 7-4 lead.
Milwaukee starter Aric Ehmke allowed four runs on five hits with four strikeouts over five innings on the mound. Mason Weckler surrendered three runs on three hits and four walks over three innings of relief in a losing effort.
The Penguins will attempt to complete the three-game Horizon League series sweep on Saturday. First pitch at Franklin Field is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
