COLLEGE BASEBALL YSU achieves second comeback win in row

The Penguins outlasted Illinois-Chicago, 11-8.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- The Youngstown State baseball team is finally putting things together, and it couldn't come at a better time.
The Penguins won their second straight come-from-behind game Friday night by outlasting Horizon League leader Illinois-Chicago 11-8 at Eastwood Field.
The win improved the Penguins to 16-27, 5-9 in the Horizon League, while UIC, which leads the conference with a 12-5 record, falls to 32-16 overall.
"We're finally putting something together for a change," said YSU coach Mike Florak. "This season has been so difficult because of all the adversity this team has had between the weather and the injuries.
"Before this weekend we had played two games in 10 days, and it's difficult to get anything going when you don't play," Florak added.
Right direction
But the coach is happy the team is moving in the right direction, especially with the Penguins hosting the Horizon League tournament beginning May 26 at Eastwood Field.
"This is the time that you want things to be happening for you, and hopefully we can keep it going right into the tournament," he said.
Friday, the Penguins ripped 15 hits and scored nine times in their final four at-bats against the Flames, who won the Horizon League tournament last year and made their first trip to the NCAA tournament.
The Penguins trailed 2-1, 3-2 and 7-6 before finally winning it with three runs in the eighth inning that broke an 8-8 deadlock.
Leaders
Sophomore Charles Schultz drove in three runs with two hits, including a two-run double in the eighth. Nine of the 10 Penguins who batted in the contest hit safely.
Senior Kendall Schlabach and sophomore Justin Banks, each with two hits, also scored three times, while sophomore Brandon Caipen, freshman Jeff Solt and junior Jim Phillips also added two hits.
Senior catcher Adam Cox connected for his seventh home run of the season in the seventh inning.
The Penguins took a 6-3 lead into the seventh, but allowed the Flames to score four runs on three hits. YSU also made two errors, as UIC took a 7-6 lead.
After the Penguins scored two more in the seventh on Cox's homer and an RBI single by Brent Parks to regain the lead, 8-7, the Flames tied the score in the eighth.
In the bottom of the eighth Solt led off with a double. When Phillips tried to sacrifice him to third, UIC catcher Nelson Gord threw the ball into left field trying to get Solt, and he came around to score.
Schlabach did the same thing trying to get Phillips to third, but this time Phillips slid under the tag at third and Schultz then slammed a double into right center, scoring both Phillips and Schlabach.
Sophomore Justin Thomas struggled through the first eight innings to pick up the win. Freshman Andy Svitak pitched the ninth and got the save.