Youngstown State breaks out at the right time

By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- The Youngstown State baseball team is one victory from playing for the Horizon League Tournament championship.
The Penguins, who finished last in the team standings and were the tournament's seventh seed, reached the winners bracket finals Friday by defeating Cleveland State 7-2 at Eastwood Field.
Sophomore Eric Shaffer pitched eight strong innings, allowing just four hits, to pick up the victory, while the Penguins erupted for six runs in the second inning en route to their second straight tournament win.
YSU will meet top-seeded and defending tournament champion Illinois-Chicago today at 12:30 p.m. With a win, the Penguins would advance to Sunday's championship game at 12:30 p.m.
Not picture-perfect
The Penguins rolled to victory on Friday despite six errors, one short of the tournament record. But Shaffer kept the Vikings well in hand as he did not allow an earned run while striking out five and walking three.
Senior Frank Santore pitched a perfect ninth inning for the Penguins.
"We've had just two tremendous pitching efforts from our starters and the bullpen has been perfect," YSU coach Mike Florak said. "We knew coming into this tournament that our pitching staff was among the best in the league and they've proven it thus far."
Shaffer never rattled behind the YSU errors, three by third baseman Jim Phillips and three by shortstop Charles Schultz.
"I just tried to stay mentally prepared out there today, concentrating on what I had to do," Shaffer said. "We made some errors, but we made so many good plays today, also."
Shaffer said that he's not surprise the Penguins are 2-0 in the tournament.
"We came into the tournament confident we could win it all," he said. "We knew we had good pitching, and if our hitting and defense stayed sound we would be fine."
Offensively, seniors Jim Lipinski and Kendall Schlabach led the way. Lipinski, who had been struggling, ripped three singles and drove in a run while making several big plays at first base. Schlabach had two hits, scored two runs and drove in a pair.
Looked, got
"I felt real comfortable at the plate today," said Lipinski. "I went up there looking for some off-speed pitches and that's what I got."
Lipinski said the Penguins must cut down on errors.
"Six errors is a lot, but give Eric [Shaffer] credit, he just pitched right through them. What a job he did today," Lipinski added.
The contest was decided in the top of the second inning when the Penguins broke things open.
Lipinski singled through the left side of the infield. Senior Adam Cox reached on a fielder's choice, with Lipinski out at second. Kyle Penrod followed with a single through the right side, with Cox advancing to second.
Sophomore Justin Banks singled into left field to score Cox, while Penrod advanced to third. Freshman Brent Parks, who also had two hits in the game, then got an infield single to load the bases.
Cleveland State pitcher Matt Kaltenbach (4-8), who went the distance, struck out Jim Phillips for the second out, but Schlabach ripped a single to right-center, scoring Banks and Penrod.
Brandon Caipen reached on a fielding error at third base, with Parks scoring, and then Schultz reached on a throwing error at shortstop that allowed Schlabach and Caipen to score. Lipinski, batting for the second time in the inning, made the final out.
Vikings' runs
The Vikings (17-32) scored single runs in the fourth and seventh innings, both thanks to YSU errors.
The Penguins added an insurance run in the seventh when Schlabach singled, was sacrificed to second by Caipen and scored on Lipinski's third single to left field.
"We definitely have to play better defense than we did today," Florak said. "But this team has a lot of confidence right now and we're looking forward to tomorrow."
mollica@vindy.com