Akron tops YSU 8-7

By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- The rally came just a little too late for the Youngstown State baseball team Wednesday night as the Penguins dropped an 8-7 non-conference decision to the University of Akron at Eastwood Field.
The Penguins and Zips battled back and forth for eight innings and the teams combined to score seven runs in the ninth frame.
The Penguins scored four of those runs, two on the sixth home run of the season by junior Erich Deidrich, but the Zips had taken an 8-3 lead in the top of the ninth and YSU came up a run short.
It was an unusual night for the Penguins, who used nine pitchers in the contest, but it was planned that way by coach Mike Florak.
"We just haven't played enough lately to get these guys any work, so it was our plan to use someone every inning," Florak said.
"We still didn't look good; there are just too many players who aren't listening to what we tell them to do and we have to get things straightened around quickly," he added.
Pitching problems
Actually it was the first and last of the Penguins' pitchers who had the most trouble.
The Zips (16-11) got two runs in the first inning off starter Chuck Schiffhauer and got to closer Andy Svitak for three more in the ninth.
The Penguins (11-21) had 10 hits in the game, three of them in the ninth including Erich Deidrich's 21st career homer and a triple by senior Brent Parks.
"It was good to see Erich hitting the ball to all fields again," Florak said. "We've talked to him about it and he's back to hitting the ball where it's pitched.
"We're still not playing well, but we'll get it straightened around quickly and hopefully by this weekend," he added.
The Penguins open a four-game Horizon League series with Wright State Friday with a 3 p.m. contest and play a doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday, all at Eastwood Field.
Back and forth
The Zips scored twice in the first frame on just two hits, but Schiffhauer helped out with a hit batsman and a base on balls.
The Penguins tied the score in the fourth on a lead off single by Dustin Wachter and a ground rule double by Tom Clayton. Clayton scored on an Akron error.
Akron regained the lead in the fifth with two more runs on three singles and a YSU error.
The Penguins closed the lead to one run in the seventh when Sean Lucas reached on an error and scored on Deidrich's triple to left field.
But the Zips added a run in the eighth on an RBI single by Brett Savage, but Lucas saved another run when he threw out Vince Chiera at home plate for the final out of the inning.
Then in the ninth, Akron scored three more runs on only one hit, but it was a two-run double by Scott Gunn and then Svitak allowed the third run on a wild pitch.
The Penguins weren't through and battled back in the bottom of the ninth.
Parks led off with a triple to left center and after Mike Turjanica walked, John Koehnlein singled home Parks and Turjanica scored on a wild pitch. Deidrich then blasted a shot to deep left center to bring the Penguins within a run, but Ryne Romick retired the final two batters to get out of the jam.
mollica@vindy.com