Bullpen falters in 7-2 defeat

Illinois-Chicago scored four times in the eighth inning to break away from a 3-2 lead.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- The Youngstown State baseball team couldn't get the help it needed from its bullpen Friday night, as the Penguins suffered a 7-2 setback to Illinois-Chicago in a Horizon League contest at Eastwood Field.
The Penguins trailed the league-leading Flames just 3-2 after seven innings behind starting pitcher Lucas Engle, but UIC (27-15, 17-4 HL) scored four times in the eighth on really only one hit and broke the game open.
The loss didn't help the Penguins (20-26, 10-12) in the standings as they remain in fourth place, three games out of second place and a first-round bye in the conference tournament later this month.
"Lucas pitched a great game we just needed to get him some support," said YSU coach Mike Florak.
"We got good pitching from Lucas, our defense was sound and we hit the ball pretty good, but we just have to get some support for our starters," he added.
"We blew a couple of opportunities and proved costly, but we were right in there until the eighth," Florak said.
"We've got to come back tomorrow and win a couple and we'll be all right," he said.
Struggled only one inning
Engle struggled in only one inning of the seven he pitched as he allowed the Flames all three of their runs in the sixth inning on four hits, two of them doubles.
After Engle struck out the side in the seventh, Florak brought in junior Josh Wells to start the eighth.
He promptly hit the first two batters he faced and Florak went back to the bullpen for senior Kevin Libeg, the Hubbard native.
Libeg promptly walked the first batter to load the bases and then gave up a three-run triple to deep center-field to Chad Schroeder. Libeg then threw a wild pitch to allow Schroeder to score.
The Penguins only two runs of the game came on home runs, both lead off homers and both on the first pitch thrown by UIC starter Zach Peterson.
Senior Dustin Thomas hit the first one to lead off the fifth inning over the right field wall, and gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead. In the sixth senior Brandon Caipen led off with a solo shot to left field that closed the gap to 3-2.
YSU missed chances
But the Penguins had missed opportunities.
In the fourth inning, they had the bases loaded with one out, but couldn't score; and then in the seventh Thomas led off with a double down the left field line and J.D. Hannan followed with an infield single.
So runners were at first and third and nobody out when sophomore Josh Page laid down a bunt, but it went right to Peterson. Sean Lucas, who was running for Thomas, tried to score on the play and was out at the plate and the Penguins never threatened again.
"Josh bunted on his own and we got a late jump from third base," Florak said. "Sometimes you have to let these guys on their own up there. If he bunts it anywhere but to the pitcher we score."
YSU leaders
Page and Thomas each had two hits to lead the YSU eight-hit attack.
Engle, who dropped to 4-4, pitched seven innings allowing seven hits and three runs. He struck out eight and walked two.
Peterson (6-3) got the win with seven innings and eight hits. He struck out seven and walked one, but the Flames' relief staff allowed only one base runner over the final two frames.
The two teams will play a doubleheader today beginning at 1 p.m. at Eastwood Field.
mollica@vindy.com