Errors allow YSU to rally

The Zips suffered five errors while the Penguins improved to 9-16.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
AKRON -- Five Akron errors opened the way for a good day for Youngstown State University, whose baserunners and defense did the rest Tuesday in a 6-3 win over the Zips at Lee Jackson Field.
After Akron (7-17) took an early 2-0 lead, Youngstown tied it, 2-2.
Two of Akron's errors enabled designated hitter J.D. Hannan to score the go-ahead run on a fielder's choice in the top of the third inning.
As the leadoff batter, Hannan reached base when shortstop Ryne Romick's throw was in the dirt in front of first baseman Kurt Davidson. When pitcher Pat Watt attempted to pick off Hannan, the throw got by Davidson. Hannan advanced to third on the same play and scored on Erich Diedrich's groundout to second base to put YSU ahead, 3-2.
Parks triples
The Penguins (9-16) added three runs in the fifth when Youngstown had four hits including a triple by Brent Parks.
His triple went over the center fielder's head, which was improbable considering the strong winds.
"He was playing in because the wind was blowing in today," said Parks. "I was playing center field also and the ball was getting knocked down. It happened to get over his head," the junior from Canfield said of a knee-high fastball from Watt that sailed over Marcus Geiselman's head. "I was just trying to get a base hit."
Josh Page was the only YSU batter with two hits, a pair of singles. Page, Parks, Diedrich, Justin Banks and Lou Gattozzi each had an RBI.
Diedrich, who entered the game with a .400 average, was instrumental with his small-ball game: two sacrifice bunts.
"You've got to do anything and as much as you can," Diedrich said. "My job today was to put bunts down when we had runners on first."
Normally, Diedrich would hit away.
"I can hit away with one out, but there was a guy on first and no outs," he said of YSU offensive situation in the first and fifth innings. "My job was to get them over to second for someone else to drive in. It's doing the little things that wins games."
Diedrich was also hit-by-pitch twice.
More gutsy play needed
Coach Mike Florak said that the way the Penguins played was an example of what he'd like to see more often.
"We need to do things a lot better than what we've been doing. I know we've got guts, but we just need to display them more frequently, rather than when we get our backs up against a wall."
Winning pitcher Chuck Schiffauer (2-1) faced 17 batters over the first four innings.
"He's been solid for us all year," Florak said of his sophomore pitcher from Munroe Falls High in Stow. "He throws strikes, competes and has great attitude."
Credit to the job done by YSU's defense lies in the fact that the Penguins' five pitchers combined for only five strikeouts and three walks.
Two notable defensive plays came when first baseman Mike Turjanica made a stab to his right side to snag Romick's line drive in the bottom of the fifth with two outs. Another took place in the bottom of the eighth when shortstop Gattozzi, second baseman Page and Turjanica executed a double play.
Difficult position
YSU's Justin Thomas had a dizzy day as the left fielder chased fly balls in a tricky wind. He had one very good over-the-head catch in the fifth inning and another sprinting catch of a line drive slicing toward the foul line in the second inning.
Watt, a junior left-hander from Struthers, made his third start and took the loss.
"I've been struggling to get back into the swing," said Watt (0-1). "I had to challenge the strike zone, but I didn't do that as good as I could have. I let my team down in certain circumstances, but there are a lot of things we can do better as a team as well in order to win ballgames."
Of the 27 batters he faced, Watt walked five, whiffed two and allowed five earned runs.
The Penguins play at Duquesne today and entertain Wright State on Friday.
"We need to get better in all facets," Florak said. "We've got character, they just need to display it all the time. That's basically what we need to do."