COLLEGE BASEBALL Penguins' offense struggles again in losses to CSU

The Penguins have lost three straight to their Horizon League rivals.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- Youngstown State's baseball pitching staff has allowed just one earned run in 26 innings over three games against Horizon League rival Cleveland State University this weekend.
Yet the Penguins are 0-3 against the Vikings.
This is not how YSU head coach Mike Florak expected to open up the league season, especially against a team that came into the series with a 2-12 record.
YSU dropped a doubleheader to the Vikings Saturday at Eastwood Field, losing 4-1 in the opener and 1-0 in the nightcap.
Pitching has not been the problem.
Florak has started three left-handers against the Vikings, Eric Shaffer on Friday and then Justin Thomas and Chris Dennis on Saturday.
"Look at these charts," said Florak. "They were both throwing in the 89 to 90 velocity range today, and I'll bet that Shaffer's wasn't much different on Friday."
And Florak has a fourth southpaw, sophomore Josh Wells, who brings it quicker than the other three.
Doesn't know problem
"I can't tell you what the problem is right now," added Florak. "We made errors today and we had our best fielders in the game. We're not hitting consistently and our best hitters are in the lineup.
"I love these kids and I wouldn't trade anyone of them for someone else," he continued. "I still have faith in them and I expect us to get back on track here as quickly as tomorrow."
Florak tried to take measures into his own hands in the second game of Saturday's twin bill, when he was ejected right before the start of the bottom of the fifth inning.
Was it intentional?
"Of course it was," Florak said. "I hate to lose and I'll try just about anything to win a game. I figured maybe it would fire them up a little bit."
Unfortunately it didn't.
Errors galore
YSU (6-17, 0-3) committed seven errors in the opener. They had four going into the seventh inning when they were still tied at 1-1, but made three more in the seventh as the Vikings pulled away.
Friday night, the Penguins allowed four unearned runs in the 12th inning in a 5-3 loss.
Both teams scored in the first inning in of the opener, then starting pitchers Thomas and Mike Ochwat of Cleveland took over.
YSU scored when Charles Schultz tripled to deep center and scored on Justin Banks' single down the left field line.
Thomas pitched well, striking out six and allowing six hits. The Vikings loaded the bases without a hit to open the seventh as YSU made three quick errors. Steve Chinn's double down the right field line brought home two runs.
Three double plays
YSU had seven hits in the opener, including two by Schultz. But the Vikings played good defense, turning three double plays including one to end the game in the seventh.
Gary Ball shut down the Penguins in the nightcap as he allowed just three hits over seven innings. YSU had just three runners past second base. Dennis was equally tough as he scattered five hits while striking out six.
The Vikings scored their only run in the second inning when Cory Rojeck singled over the third base bag, stole second and went to third when catcher Adam Cox threw the ball into center on the steal attempt.
Rojeck scored on the Penguins' ninth error of the day, a bobble at third base by Schultz on Brian Lombardi's ground ball.
The teams are scheduled to play a single game today at 1 p.m. at Eastwood Field.