Valparaiso scores 3 in 8th inning to beat YSU

VALPARAISO, Ind. — Dan DeBruin’s RBI single in the eighth inning broke a tie and Kyle Muhlsteff added a two-run double later in the inning, leading Valparaiso over Youngstown State, 6-4, in a Horizon League baseball game Friday.

The Crusaders (22-19, 8-8 HL) scored all of their runs with two outs in the opener of a three-game series. The teams play a doubleheader today at 1 p.m.

Youngstown State (12-29, 8-10) rallied in the ninth inning, scoring one run, and the Penguins had the tying run on base.

Jacke Healey homered and singled for Youngstown State, while David Leon had two hits and two RBIs.

Andrew Quinette led Valparaiso with three hits, while Matt Lenski, DeBruin and Muhlsteff all had two.

Aaron Swenson (5-5) pitched a complete game for the Penguins. He allowed 11 hits, striking out five and walking three.

Jon Gulbransen was the winning pitcher, going 81‚Ñ3 innings, allowing eight hits and four runs — two earned. Jarad Miller finished up for his 12th save.

Valparaiso scored twice in the first inning to take an early lead. With one out, Muhlsteff walked and Lenski followed with a single. After a flyout, Quinette singled to score Muhlsteff and Steven Scoby’s single drove in Lenski.

The Penguins got on the board in the fourth on Healey’s homer, his sixth of the season, but the Crusaders answered in the fifth, when Quinette singled with one out and scored on a triple by Damon McCormick.

Youngstown State tied the score in the seventh. With two outs Anthony Porter and C.J. Morris hit back-to-back singles, then Leon drove in both runs with a single to center and a throwing error by Valparaiso outfielder Kyle Gaedele.

In the eighth, McCormick walked with one out, then after a flyout he stole second. Gaedele was hit by a pitch, the DeBruin’s single to right-center scored McCormick with the go-ahead run. Muhlsteff followed with a two-run double.

Youngstown State rallied in the ninth. Jonathon Crist led off by reaching on an error by Muhlsteff, the third baseman. Jeremy Banks reached on a fielder’s choice, with Crist being retired at second, but Porter then singled to right, moving Banks to third

Miller came on to pitch and induced a popup by pinch-hitter Casey Holland. Leon then singled, scoring Banks, but Miller got pinch-hitter Tom Clayton to ground out.