YSU BASEBALL Late-inning collapse dooms Penguins in Horizon League debut

Cleveland State scored four runs in the 12th inning to win 5-3.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- It was definitely not the start the Youngstown State University baseball team was looking for as it opened Horizon League play Friday at Eastwood Field.
The Penguins battled Cleveland State to a 1-1 deadlock through 11 innings and then faltered in the 12th, allowing four runs on just one hit as the Vikings pulled out a 5-3 victory.
The win was the third this season for Cleveland State (3-12), while the Penguins fell to 6-15.
The 12th inning was a nightmare for the Penguins as relief pitchers Andy Svitak and Kevin Libeg had trouble finding the plate.
Svitak (0-2) who came in to relieve starter Eric Shaffer in the seventh inning, started the 12th. He gave up a single to leadoff hitter Brian Lombardi, then hit Dom Erney.
When Gary Ball laid down a sacrifice bunt, Svitak fielded it and threw wildly to first base, loading the bases.
Svitak struck out Ben Smith, but walked Eric Schmitz to force in the go-ahead run. YSU coach Mike Florak brought in Libeg, a sophomore from Hubbard, who struck out Cory Rojeck for the second out.
Libeg walked the next two batters, forcing in two more runs and uncorked a wild pitch to allow the fourth run to score.
YSU came back in the bottom of the 12th to score two runs on a two-run home run by Kyle Penrod into the Vikings bullpen in right field.
Early lead
YSU took a 1-0 lead after senior Kendall Schlabach opened the first inning with a single to center field. Charles Schultz sacrificed him to second. After Justin Banks popped out, senior catcher Adam Cox singled to right field and Schlabach slid under the tag at home plate.
Shaffer struggled through the first four innings he pitched. He worked out of jams in the first when he had runners on second and third before getting making a nice catch on a line drive back to the mound.
He had runners in scoring position in the second and third before getting out of trouble and then had the bases loaded in the fourth before getting out of trouble.
He breezed through the fifth and sixth innings, but gave up a single to Rojeck to open the seventh. With one out, Marc Sikora, the former Boardman High standout, drilled a double to right center scoring Rojeck with the tying run.
Florak brought in Svitak, who promptly walked the bases loaded before striking out the final two batters.
Strong pitching
Cleveland State's starting pitcher Matt Kattenbach went the first eight inning and never was in trouble after the first inning.
He retired the final 14 batters he faced and was forced to leave the game after the eighth inning when Schultz drilled a line drive that hit off his side. He made the play for the final out, but Gian Testa came on to finish the game and get the victory.
Sikora, a freshman, had three hits for the Vikings, including a pair of doubles as Cleveland State finished with 11 hits to seven for the Penguins.
Schlabach and Jim Phillips each had two hits to lead the Penguins.
The two teams will play a doubleheader today beginning at 1 p.m. at Eastwood Field. They are scheduled to play a single game Sunday at noon.
mollica@vindy.com