By Jeff Brown
The Youngstown State University baseball team dropped two of three games in a series at Wright State University over the weekend. YSU drops to 9-20 on the year and just 4-11 in the Horizon League.
The Penguins had an optimistic start to weekend, winning the first game of the series 6-5 on Friday evening.
Jared Wight had a solid evening on the mound for the Penguins allowing only one run on six hits through the first five innings. Wight improved to 3-2 on the year, and recorded his first win in Horizon League play this year.
YSU’s offense backed Wight up in the fourth, scoring four runs on five hits and gave YSU a 4-1 lead. A two-run double by Alex Larivee in the eighth propelled the Penguins to a 6-5 lead, which proved to be just enough to hold off the surging Raiders to give YSU the victory.
Over the next two days the Penguins would not be as fortunate. The Penguins were blown out in game two of the series 13-1, and completely shutout in game three losing 9-0.
In game two, a Josh Fitch single in the first inning gave the Penguins an early 1-0 lead, but it was all Wright State from there. The Raiders scored six runs in the bottom half of the first inning to take a 6-1 lead, and would add seven more runs over the final four innings.
Pitcher Joe King was credited with the loss for the Penguins in his first Horizon League start of the season. King allowed six runs in 1.1 innings and drops to 1-1 on the year.
DJ Carr came in relief of King and pitched two scoreless innings, but allowed three runs in the fifth and sixth inning.
Eleven of Wright State’s 14 hits came from their top four in the lineup.
In game three on Sunday, YSU pitcher Jeremy Quinlan tried to will the Penguins to victory, but did not have the support to do so. Quinlan allowed only one unearned run on two hits through the first five innings.
It all came crashing down in the sixth, however. Quinlan allowed six earned runs on five hits including one homerun. The loss brings Quinlan to just 2-6 on the year.
Wright State pitcher Trevor Swaney dominated the Penguins all afternoon, allowing only three hits in six innings of work with five strikeouts.
Up next for the Penguins is a single game against Ohio University at Eastwood Field on Tuesday.
The Bobcats are 19-14 on the year and are led by first baseman Jake Madsen who is currently riding a six game hit streak. Madsen is batting .347 on the year, and also has 11 doubles.
First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 pm.
