By Cameron Mitchell / The Jambar
In front of a crowd of over 140 people at Eastwood Field on March 18, Youngstown State University faced Mercyhurst University in a 15-5 win over seven innings.
After the second inning, the Penguins were down 2-0 before they outscored the Lakers 15-3 en route to a nonconference victory.
The Lakers led the game with 15 walks, which ranks as the second most for a game in program history. Youngstown State hasn’t drawn 15 or more walks in a single game since May 6, 2001 against Oakland University.
Junior Brayden Kuriger went 3-for-4 behind the plate with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored to lead the Penguins offensively.
Another star of the game was senior Kyle Fossum, marking a three-run homerun for his seventh homer of the season. Following Fossum in the home run category was freshman Caleb Hadley, who added two more runs for YSU.
Youngstown State’s pitching was led by junior Brandon Mikos, who allowed three runs on six hits with four strikeouts.
The ’Guins had a combined five pitchers on the mound. The mix of Mikos, senior Nolan Kubilus and juniors Braden Gebhardt, Aidan English and Sloan Ulrich only allowed two runs on four hits in the final three innings.
After the win over the Lakers, the Penguins faced Purdue University Fort Wayne on March 21 at Eastwood Field, which began a three-game Horizon League series.
YSU lost in a 5-4 nail-biter. Purdue Fort Wayne scored three times in the top of the ninth inning to overcome a 3-2 deficit.
The Penguins broke a 1-1 tie when senior Tommy Rover hit a two-run homerun to right field in the bottom of the fifth inning. YSU held that 3-2 advantage until the top of the ninth inning where the Mastodons put up three runs to make the score 5-3.
PFW graduate student Dillon Fischer allowed three runs on five hits and six walks over five innings.
Following Fischer was freshman Aiden Pearson, who threw three scoreless innings of relief. Senior Rex Stills finished the game throwing a no hitter in the ninth inning.
In Game Two of the three-game series, YSU defeated PFW 12-11 in another close matchup. Over its final three at bats, Youngstown State scored nine runs to overcome a seven-run deficit.
Redshirt junior Garrett Cutting had a productive outing as he went three-for-four with an RBI, scored three runs and stole two bases.
In the final game against the Mastodons, the Penguins were overwhelmed by 11 unanswered runs in the top of the third inning as they fell 20-16.
The team began its four-game road stretch against Bowling Green State University on March 25. Despite five strong innings from the Penguins, the Falcons scored eight runs in the seventh to claim a 12-7 victory.
Youngstown State drops to 4-19 overall and 3-4 in the Horizon League.
YSU will be back in action at 3 p.m. March 28 to take on Wright State University in Dayton.
