Penguins crush West Liberty 18-1

YSU had 21 hits, including eight for extra bases, in the home opener.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
STRUTHERS -- Youngstown State baseball coach Mike Florak has broken down the Penguins current season into two-week increments.
The first two weeks of the season the Penguins weren't very good. The next two weeks they got better. Now, in the third two-week period, the Penguins gave every indication they are close to where they need to be.
Thursday afternoon the Penguins put on a red-hot hitting display on a very cold afternoon, pounding out 21 hits in an 18-1 rout over West Liberty State at Cene Park.
The 18 runs and 21 hits were the most by the Penguins (6-10) this season. They also had eight extra base hits, including four triples and four doubles. The four triples were the second most by the school since getting five back in 1969.
"It was good to see the kids swinging the bats and everybody contributing," said Florak. "We still have a long way to go and we've still got Butler, Toledo, Ohio and UIC to play in this two-week period."
Open league play Saturday
The Penguins, who have won five of their last seven contests, will begin Horizon play on Saturday in Butler with a noon doubleheader.
"I think the kids are excited about this since we are a veteran team and they've been around to know what to expect in the conference," Florak said.
The Penguins had six players with multiple hits in the contest led by sophomore catcher Erich Diedrich, senior outfielder Brandon Caipen and senior outfielder Dustin Thomas with three hits each. Diedrich and Caipen each had a double and triple and Thomas a double.
Diedrich said that it wasn't a surprise that the Penguins exploded offensively against the Hilltoppers.
"The offense has always been there, it just really came out today," he said. "Coach Florak has been pushing us hard to be aggressive at the plate and it's starting to pay off."
Pitching on target
Offense wasn't the only thing the Penguins showed against the Hilltoppers (5-14). They also played good defense and had excellent pitching.
Florak used seven pitchers in the contest. Only sophomore starter Chuck Schiffhauer and sophomore Joe Antinone went two innings. The last five (Matt Gnacinski, Josh Wells, Andy Svitak, Kevin Libeg and Ryan Sellman) all went an inning apiece. Schiffhauer (1-1) was credited with the victory.
They limited West Liberty to five hits and one run, had eight strikeouts and walked just two batters.
The Hilltoppers didn't help themselves as they committed five errors. They also had two wild pitches, two passed balls and four hit batters.
Jumped out early
YSU wasted little time getting to West Liberty starter Garrett Powell, sending nine batters to the plate in the opening inning. The Penguins scored five runs on four hits including three triples. Diedrich and Caipen each had two run triples.
YSU built the lead to 9-0 before exploding for six more in the fifth to put things away. The Penguins sent 11 batters to the plate in that frame and collected six hits.
West Liberty scored its only run in the sixth inning without getting a hit. The Hilltoppers had a walk, a ground out and YSU's only error to plate the run.
Florak used 14 position players and seven pitchers in the contest.
"It was good to get everybody some swings at the plate and time in the field," he added.