Niles, Ohio – Youngstown State's baseball team scored 10 runs over the sixth and seventh innings and beat Northern Kentucky 11-6 on a chilly Friday night at 717 Credit Union Field at Eastwood.
The Penguins, playing their first Horizon League game this season at their normal home stadium, have now won four straight conference contests to improve to 7-9 in Horizon League play. The newly-installed turf at 717 Credit Union Field at Eastwood held through a long day of rain, and YSU shook off a tough start to take the opening game of the three-game series with the Norse.
NKU scored three runs in the top of the first, and the Norse led 4-1 after five innings. Youngstown State sent 11 hitters to the plate in the bottom of the sixth to take its first lead of the game, and it added three more runs in the seventh to go up 11-4. NKU scored once in the eighth and once in the ninth for the final tally.
Alex Jang was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, and Youngstown State's fourth through seventh hitters in the lineup accounted for nine RBIs. James Carlson also had two hits for the Penguins, who were outhit 11-9 despite outscoring NKU by five runs.
Youngstown State starter Braden Gebhardt shook off a three-run first inning to pitch through the fifth, and Aidan English allowed one run in 2.2 innings to allow the offense to rally. English earned the victory out of the bullpen, improving his record to 2-2 this season.
Gebhardt needed 40 pitches to get through the top of the first as the Norse scored three runs off the Penguins' ace. The senior southpaw walked the first two batters, and Josh Williams reached on a bunt single to the left of the mound to load the bases with nobody out. NKU's first run came in on a fielder's choice, and another single reloaded the bases with one out. Gebhardt struck out Mark Nowak for the second out of the inning, but Jackson Wang served a soft single to left on an 0-1 pitch to plate two more runs and put the Norse ahead 3-0.
YSU shaved one run off the deficit in the bottom of the first as Luke Rossi reached on a two-out error, and Nathan Beckley laced the first pitch of his at bat into the gap in right-center to plate Rossi from first.
The Norse reclaimed their three-run lead in the top of the fourth when Williams plated Pierce Bauerle with a sacrifice fly.
The Penguins had opportunities in the third through fifth innings, leaving seven runners on in those three innings as NKU's pitchers recorded seven strikeouts. The game flipped in the sixth when Youngstown State scored seven runs on just three hits, including two clutch knocks from Brady Shannon and Misael Uriepero.
Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases with nobody out, and Ryan Schummer's sacrifice fly for the second out of the inning plated Uriepero. The next five hitters reached base for the Penguins, and Jang was hit by a pitch to bring in the tying run following an RBI single from Rossi. Shannon then ripped a single through the shift on the left side of the infield to plate two runners, and Uriepero, who led off the inning, followed with a two-run double to right to put the Penguins up 8-4.
Youngstown State added three runs in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Beckley and a two-out, two-run double by Jang to left center.
Gebhardt was charged with four runs on seven hits while striking out five batters over five innings. English surrendered three hits and two walks in 2.2 innings in his winning effort, and Bryce Palms recorded the final four outs.
NKU used five pitchers, and starter Logan Wilson allowed one unearned run over 4.2 innings. He finished with nine strikeouts, and he handed the ball to the bullpen after throwing 99 pitches. Cody Little was charged with the loss, with four of YSU's runs in the sixth going on his record.
Wang was 4-for-4 with three RBIs to lead the Norse offensively.
The Penguins and Norse will continue their series on Saturday at 3 p.m. at 717 Credit Union Field at Eastwood. Jack Messmore is slated to start the contest on the mound for the Penguins. Saturday's contest will feature $4 16-ounce beers and a YSU Flag giveaway.
