Bad first inning dooms Penguins in rainy loss
Pitt 7
YSU 2
Next: YSU at Canisius, today, 3 p.m.
Staff report
PITTSBURGH
The Youngstown State baseball team started too slow in a game that ended too quickly.
The Penguins gave up six runs in the first inning and fell to host Pitt 7-2 Tuesday in a game that was called in the bottom of the fifth inning due to rain.
It was the sixth straight loss for YSU (8-26).
The Panthers (22-13) jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first inning, pounding seven hits off Penguins starter Padraic Williams. Three of the seven hits went for extra bases.
Senior starting pitcher Kevin Dooley pitched three no-hit innings and eight of the nine Pitt batters collected at least one hit.
YSU (8-26, 3-6 Horizon) cut the deficit to four with two runs in the top of the fourth.
David Leon doubled to lead off the inning, then moved to third on a balk. After a strikeout by Drew Dosch, Jeremy Banks singled to right to score Leon.
Banks advanced to second on a passed ball and Joe Iacobucci followed with an RBI single to right. YSU’s final two batters flied out.
The Penguins threatened again in the fifth. Phil Lipari singled to start the inning. Dan Hurlimann then walked and both moved up a base on a double steal. Armani Johnson then reached on an error to load the bases with no outs.
But Pitt senior Zach Duggan made a highlight reel catch on David Leon’s line drive to center and doubled-up Hurlimann at second. Dosch struck out to end the inning.
Williams (0-2) lasted just 32/3 innings, giving up seven runs (all earned) on 11 hits.