HORIZON BASEBALL YSU loses to Raiders after a half-inning of winning

The Penguins and Wright State play two today at 1p.m.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- A two-and-a-half hour rain delay appeared to be just what the doctor ordered for the Youngstown State baseball team, at least for a half inning.
Saturday afternoon the Penguins trailed Wright State 4-2 going into the bottom of the sixth inning when the rain began falling at Eastwood Field.
After the rain, the Penguins went to bat and rallied for four runs to take a 6-4 lead, only to lose it in the seventh when the Raiders scored three runs to post a 7-6 Horizon League victory.
The loss dropped the Penguins' record to 13-23 overall and 3-6 in the Horizon League. Wright State improved to 15-26, 6-7.
The second game of the scheduled doubleheader was rained out and the teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader today at 1 p.m. at Eastwood.
Still believes in team
YSU coach Mike Florak still believes his team can turn things around this year, before the Horizon Tournament later this month, which the Penguins will host at Eastwood Field.
"We just have to get our heads into the game," Florak said. "I know this team can win."
Sophomore Justin Thomas started for the Penguins and tossed the first six innings, allowing eight hits and four runs, all of them earned.
After the long delay, Florak brought in freshman Andy Svitak, who retired just one of the seven batters he faced, allowing five hits and three runs while suffering the defeat.
Penguins score first
YSU scored two runs in the second inning as sophomore Justin Banks singled with one out and scored when sophomore Kyle Penrod doubled with two outs into the right-center field gap. Sophomore Brian Boone then followed with a single to right and Penrod slid under the tag at home plate for the second run.
Wright State tied the score in the third on an RBI single by Ross Vagedes and an infield grounder by Chris Jergens.
The Raiders added a run in the fourth with two outs as Thomas hit Ross Oeder, who stole second. With the hit-and-run play on, Oeder scored on Chris Coleman's single up the middle.
In the fifth the Raiders added one more run as Bryan Vickers led off the inning with a towering home run deep to left field.
The Penguins, who never threatened after the second inning, came to life after the rain delay.
Sixth-inning rally
Coleman, the Raiders' starter, came back after the delay and pitched to two batters. Sophomore Brandon Caipen hit the first pitch for a double down the left field line and sophomore Charles Schultz followed with a single to center that Jergens misplayed, allowing Caipen to score and Schultz to move to second.
After senior Jim Lipinski grounded out with Schultz moving to third, relief pitcher Joe Smith walked Justin Banks and Adam Cox, while the fourth ball to Cox was a wild pitch allowing Schultz to score the tying run.
Penrod then singled to center scoring Banks with the go ahead run and Jeff Solt then walked to load the bases. Smith then hit Jim Phillips to force in the fourth run.
Raiders come back
In the top of the seventh Svitak gave up three straight hits, including a double to Vickers off the left field wall. The third hit by Vagedes, a single to right, was misplayed by Caipen, allowing the tying run to score and Dan Biedenharn singled in the game winning run.
The Penguins went out in order in the bottom of the seventh.
The game took 4 hours, 47 minutes to complete.
mollica@vindy.com