COLLEGE BASEBALL Kent State extends Penguins' losing streak to seven games

The Penguins have a lot of improving to do, according to the coach.
By ROB TODOR
VINDICATOR SPORTS EDITOR
STRUTHERS -- The motto for Kent State's victory at Cene Park Tuesday? How about, "To err is human; to win, divine."
The Golden Flashes kicked the ball around Cene Park, committing six errors in the first four innings, then settled down on the mound and in the field for an 11-10 non-conference baseball victory over Youngstown State.
Most of the miscues -- four -- came in a six-run fourth inning for the Penguins (25-23), giving them a 7-3 lead. But a consistent attack rallied Kent State, which scored three runs in the fifth and sixth innings, and two in the eighth.
The Golden Flashes (33-17) defeated YSU for the fourth time in five meetings this season and handed the Penguins their seventh straight loss overall.
Rohan paces Flashes
Freshman third baseman Greg Rohan, a graduate of South Range High, led Kent State with a 3-for-5 performance. He had a double and two singles, and drove in three runs, and his two-run single in the eighth made it 11-8.
Three others had two hits, including catcher Kurt Eichorn, who hit his ninth homer in the first inning.
Erich Diedrich led Youngstown with three hits in five at-bats, while Dustin Thomas and Mike Turjanica had two hits apiece.
But Youngstown State coach Mike Florak was discouraged by his team's pitching performance and defense.
"You can't give up 11 runs and win a ball game," he said. "It's that simple."
Boone shaky at start
Brian Boone started for the Penguins, allowing six runs in five innings. He struggled in the first, allowing Eichorn's homer, but settled down after that before getting into trouble in the fifth.
Rohan hit a one-out double and scored on a single by Eichorn. Todd Balduf singled and Will Vazquez tripled to the left-field corner, closing YSU's lead to 7-6.
The Golden Flashes took the lead for good the following inning, scoring three more runs, two of which were unearned. Joe Antinone faced four batters, all of whom reached base, and he committed a throwing error.
"We have to make plays on bunts," said Florak. "Obviously, we didn't do that."
Diedrich and Justin Banks hit back-to-back doubles in the YSU sixth, making it 9-8, but Kent State went up 11-8 on Rohan's two-run single in the eighth.
The Penguins loaded the bases in both the eighth and ninth innings, but could score just one run in each. Jim Phillips hit an RBI single in the eighth and Banks had a sacrifice fly in the ninth.
"Right now, basically we have to improve in every facet," said Florak.
Key final series
The Penguins, 7-5 in the Horizon League, play host to Wisconsin-Milwaukee (20-25, 11-5) in a four-game series starting Friday at Eastwood Field. With three wins, YSU can secure the No. 2 seed for the Horizon tournament and a first-round bye.
"Most of all, we've got to show more guts," said Florak. "We had it last year, and if we want to win the championship we've got to show more this year."
Kevin Libeg pitched well in relief for the Penguins. The Hubbard graduate allowed two earned runs in four innings.
todor@vindy.com