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YSU scores early, often at Eastwood
By John Bassetti
NILES
Neil Schroth’s mother made a three-hour drive from central Pennsylvania to watch her son play at Eastwood Field on Wednesday.
With Schroth, a freshman, making only his second start of the season, filling up the gas tank wouldn’t have seemed like wasted money.
It was not.
Schroth had three doubles and two singles, while Boardman High products Armani Johnson and Joe Iacobucci combined for three home runs and nine RBIs as Youngstown State’s high-octane offense dropped Duquesne, 22-8.
By far, it was Schroth’s best college performance.
“Every game he [coach Rich Pasquale] tries to put together a lineup to help us win and we have great teammates, so I’ve got to give a lot of my success in the game to them,” said Schroth, of Hollidaysburg, Pa.
“Maybe some of it was luck, but I was seeing the ball well and trying to hit the ball wherever it was pitched,” said Schroth, who played second base in an infield revamped because of injuries to regular third baseman Zac McFarland.
“I try to play as hard as I can and stay locked in on that,” said Schroth, who tied a school record as one of nine Penguin players to hit three doubles in a game.
The nearly four-hour game was nothing new for YSU, which has extended plenty of innings with its run-scoring capability.
“The thing I’m pleased with is that our guys are sticking with the plan, as far as situational hitting,” Pasquale said.
“They’re seeing the ball well, they‘re not guessing,” said Pasquale, whose team is 13-12. “They’re reacting to each pitch and they’re very disciplined at the plate right now. They trust in their swing. That’s important. Everything that we talk about each day, they’re applying.”
Following the plan put in place is a big part of the team’s success, Pasquale said of his daily reminder to the players.
After Duquesne pulled within 7-6 in the top of the fourth inning, reliever Phil Klein — one of 11 Penguin pitchers — arrived to help stop the threat.
With Johnson’s two-run homer with Greg Dissinger on base, YSU took a 2-1 lead and never trailed. Johnson knocked in five runs, while Iacobucci, primarily with his two homers, accounted for four RBIs.
“I felt pretty good,” said Iacobucci. “I just tried to hit the ball hard. I just wanted to make good contact,” the junior outfielder said of hitting two fastballs.
“Everyone’s swinging well and the pitchers are doing good, so everyone’s got to just keep swinging and we’ll be fine.”