Penguins win 7-4 in Horizon opener

DAYTON — Aaron Swenson gave Youngstown State the strong start on the mound that it needed, and the Penguins never trailed in a 7-4 victory over Wright State on Friday evening in the Horizon League opener for both teams.

Swenson threw all nine innings, allowing 11 hits and striking out seven without walking a batter.

“I can’t say enough about what Aaron did for us,” YSU coach Rich Pasquale said. “He did it all last season, and he picked up right where he left off.”

Eric Marzec had a game-high four hits, and Jacke Healey and Casey Holland both homered for YSU. Healey’s was a two-run shot in the seventh inning when YSU pulled ahead from a 4-4 tie.

The Penguins took the lead in the first inning with a run on one hit and a walk. John Koehnlein drew a leadoff walk on Wright State starter Rylan Ostrosky, and he moved to second on C.J. Morris’ ground out. Eric Marzec then singled to center to plate Koehnlein.

YSU got help from an Ostrosky error in the second to go up by two. Anthony Porter reached on a one out single, and David Leon singled with two outs to put runners on first and second. Ostrosky’s attempt to pick off Leon at first was wide, and Porter came in to score.

In the fifth Koehnlein reached on an error to start the inning, and Morris moved him to second on a sacrifice bunt. Marzec then brought in Koehnlein again with a single to center to put YSU ahead 3-0.

Holland reclaimed the lead for the Penguins on the first pitch of the sixth inning with a solo homer to right center.

The Penguins tagged Michael Meintel for three runs on three hits and a walk in the seventh.