Wednesday, April 28, 2004
YSU managed nine hits, but couldn't get the big hits when they were needed.
& lt;a href=mailto:mollica@vindy.com & gt;By PETE MOLLICA & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- It was a tough night for the Youngstown State baseball team to try and get a warm-up game in before playing 12 straight Horizon League games.
The Penguins didn't do much to help the cause.
Playing in 30-degree temperatures Tuesday night at Eastwood Field, the Penguins suffered an 11-3 loss to Ohio University.
The Penguins are now 13-22. Friday night will begin a string of 12 straight Horizon League contests, eight of which are at Eastwood Field.
Assessment
"We are just not doing enough things right out there," said YSU head coach Mike Florak. "What's wrong, I really don't know, but we've got to get things turned around pretty quickly with all the league games we have coming up."
Tuesday night, the Penguins gave the Bobcats a couple of big innings -- a five-run second and a four-run seventh that were the differences in the contest.
YSU managed to get nine hits in the game, but couldn't get the big hits when they were needed.
The Penguins scored all three of their runs in the sixth inning on a two-run double by sophomore Kyle Penrod and a follow-up double by Jim Phillips.
Florak still feels that his team is capable of beating any team.
"There is still a lot of baseball to be played, and I know what we are capable of doing," Florak said.
The Penguins' pitching struggled somewhat early in the contest.
Starter Brian Boone, a sophomore, went the first five innings, but was tagged for seven hits and seven earned runs.
Got in trouble
He got himself into trouble in the second when he walked the first two batters in the inning and loaded the bases with a single to Brian White.
Boone then hit Brian Witt to force in the first run, while Matt Geiger followed with a run-scoring fly ball to left. With two outs, Bryan Buck and Brian Colopy hit back-to-back singles to drive in three more runs.
The Bobcats added single runs in the fourth and fifth as Boone gave up doubles to Dusty Hammond and White in each inning.
The Penguins, who did nothing off Ohio starter Marc Cornell in the first five innings, got to reliever Yale Silverman in the sixth.
With one out, Jim Lipinski singled to right, but was erased at second on Justin Banks' ground out. Silverman then walked Adam Cox, and Penrod followed with a double into right-center field scoring Banks and Cox. Phillips then hit a ground-rule double into the right-field stands to score Penrod, but the Penguins never threatened again.
Senior Frank Santore, who relieved Boone in the sixth and retired the Bobcats in order, couldn't get anyone out in the seventh.
He walked the lead-off batter and then gave up three straight hits, including an RBI double to Anthony Gressick and an RBI single to Willie Walker.
More help
Florak brought in senior Mike Hosterman, who got White to hit into a double play, but then he walked one batter and hit the next to load the bases again.
Hammond then hit a grounder to third where Charles Schultz's throw pulled Lipinski off the bag at first, allowing a third run to score, and then Hosterman walked in the fourth run.
Senior Clint Ford and senior Paul Yates retired the Bobcats in order in the final two innings.
YSU will open a four-game series against Horizon League opponent Wright State on Friday night at 7 at Eastwood Field. They will also play a doubleheader Saturday at noon and a single game Sunday at 1 p.m.
& lt;a href=mailto:mollica@vindy.com & gt;mollica@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;