Niles, Ohio – The Youngstown State baseball team jumped out to a 4-0 lead and held on for a 4-3 victory over Milwaukee to secure the Horizon League series win on Saturday afternoon at 717 Credit Union Field at Eastwood.
The Penguins scored four runs in the bottom of the third to jump in front before a pair of solo homers from the Panthers in the top of the fifth cut YSU's lead to 4-2. Milwaukee pulled within 4-3 with a single run in the seventh before getting the potential tying run to third base in the top of the ninth inning.
Bryce Palms walked Bradyn Horn with one out in the top of the ninth before handing the ball to Tyler Heflin out of the bullpen. Heflin struck out Connor Bozak for the second out before John Hadley singled up the middle to put runners at first and third. Heflin then got Joey Spence to swing and miss on a breaking ball with an 0-2 count to end the game and earn his first save of the season.
YSU starter Jack Messmore allowed three runs on six hits while setting new season highs with seven strikeouts and seven innings pitched in route to his second win of the season. Messmore retired seven straight batters between the second and fourth innings while registering six strikeouts through his first four innings of work.
Palms tossed 1.1 scoreless innings of relief before Heflin came on to record the final two outs. Penguin pitchers combined for a total of 10 strikeouts and only two walks.
Ryan Schummer 2-for-4 with a double and a three-run home run to go yard for the third consecutive game. Luke Rossi added two hits from the cleanup spot while Nathan Beckley doubled, walked and scored a run from the leadoff spot.
The Penguins plated four runs in the bottom of the third inning to grab a 4-0 lead. Beckley delivered an RBI double for the game's first run before Schummer homered for the third straight game with a three-run blast to right field.
The Panthers cut their deficit in half with solo home runs from Dominic Kibler and Tate Schmidt in the top of the fifth inning.
Milwaukee trimmed YSU's lead to 4-3 with a single tally in the top of the seventh inning. Dylan O'Connell hit a leadoff single, stole second, advanced to third on a fly out and scored on a sacrifice fly from Horn.
MKE starter Aric Ehmke suffered the loss after allowing four unearned runs on seven hits and striking out eight batters over seven innings.
Schmidt went 2-for-3 with a home run as the only Panther with multiple hits in the contest.
The Penguins will go for the Horizon League series sweep on Sunday afternoon. First pitch at 717 Credit Union Field at Eastwood is set for noon, and there will be a special pregame ceremony beginning at approximately 11:30 a.m. to honor YSU's Senior Class.
