Hit-by-pitch decides YSU's 6-5 win in split with Valpo

Another doubleheader is scheduled today at noon.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- Todd Santore is going to be sore today, but the senior catcher is more than willing to sacrifice a little pain to help Youngstown State's baseball team to a victory.
Tied in seventh: Santore, of Boardman, was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning with the bases loaded, forcing in the winning run in the Penguins' 6-5 victory over Valparaiso in the second game of a doubleheader at Cafaro Field.
The Penguins (9-7-1, 1-1), in their Mid-Continent Conference opener, suffered a 13-7 loss in the first game. The Crusaders (7-11, 1-1) are scheduled to play YSU in another doubleheader today at noon at Cafaro Field.
After the Penguins gave away a four-run lead in the top of the ninth, Santore finished off a one-run rally.
The bases were loaded on a lead-off walk to Steve Mefford, a sacrifice bunt by Ty Furino and back-to-back singles by Kellen Dixon and Joe Marzano.
Santore took two quick strikes from Valparaiso reliever Justin Craker, but the third pitch was well inside. Santore, with no chance to get out of the way, had the ball hit his elbow.
The Penguins were coasting with a 5-1 lead going into the ninth behind the pitching of junior Matt Brumit.
After Brumit retired the first batter of the ninth, he surrendered back-to-back singles. Coach Mike Florak summoned senior Mike Abdalla to the mound.
Got worse: But Abdalla walked the first batter he faced to load the bases and then threw a wild pitch, allowing one run to score. He then gave up a three-run home run to Valpo's Chris Moore that tied the score.
Brumit, who got no decision, allowed 11 hits and struck out eight while walking just one. He gave up a first inning home run to Mark Pederson, then shut the door until the ninth.
"I thought that we just got a super effort from Matt Brumit," said Florak. "You could just tell from the determination on his face from the first inning that he was going to pitch well today."
Dixon was 3-for-3 in the nightcap to lead YSU's 12-hit attack, while Clint Ford added two hits, including a triple, and James Swearengen had a double and single.
The Penguins also had five stolen bases in the second game, which Florak said was a key.
"We have some good speed and we like to be aggressive out there and when we do we usually are pretty successful," he said.
The Penguins fell behind 6-1 in the opener, but rallied to tie the score with a four-run sixth and a single run in the seventh, before being out-scored 7-1 over the final two innings.
"We had nine walks and committed four errors and you are not going to win too many games with those stats," said Florak.
Men at work: "We have a young team and some experienced pitchers and if they continue to keep working we'll be a pretty good team before the year is out," he added.
Jeff Mandsager hit a home run and Pederson added a pair of doubles off YSU starter Kyle Sobecki (2-1).
Sobecki, who pitched 7 1/3 innings, allowed 10 hits and 10 runs, but just six of them were earned. He walked seven batters.
The Penguins had 11 hits in the first game, including two each by Mefford, Kendall Schlabach and Ford.