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Youngstown State loses to Milwaukee in series opener
By Pete Mollica
NILES
Youngstown State’s baseball team had only one bad inning Friday afternoon, but that one turned into a nightmare.
Wisconsin-Milwaukee erupted for 12 runs in the fourth inning and coasted to a 16-6 victory over the Penguins in the opening game of a three-game Horizon League series at Eastwood Field.
Once again it was pitching that hampered the Penguins (11-32, 6-10 Horizon) as starting pitcher Robert Switka, a sophomore, was hammered for seven runs and nine hits in just three innings
“Our starting pitching has to do a better job for us,” said YSU coach Rich Pasquale. “Robert has been pitching well for us lately, but today was another matter.”
The Panthers (21-22, 10-7) sent 15 batters to the plate in the big fourth inning, collecting nine hits, to go along with one YSU error, a hit batsman and one walk.
Included in those nine hits were two home runs, including a grand slam by Paul Hoenecke and a two-run shot by Jon Capasso, who was helped out by a strong win blowing out toward right field.
Switka, who pitched well through the first three innings, giving up a single run in the third which was helped out by a YSU error, couldn’t get anybody out in the fourth.
The Panthers connected for six straight hits to open the inning before Pasquale brought in sophomore Erik Okleson, who did manage to get an out, but he also gave up both home runs. Sophomore Padraic Williams finally retired the side.
Every player in the Panthers starting lineup had at least one hit in the game, while Capasso led the way with four hits, a double and homer and four RBIs. Two other Panthers, Doug Dekoning and Ryan Solberg each had three hits as Milwaukee finished with 18 hits.
YSU actually scored first in the game, plating a run in the second on senior Joe Iacobucci’s leadoff single, a sacrifice by freshman Drew Dosch and an RBI single by Poland freshman Phil Lipari.Iacobucci, the former Boardman High standout, led the Penguins with three hits.
In the bottom of the fourth, Iacobucci and Dosch singled to open the inning and after Jon Crist was hit by a pitch to load the bases, a wild pitch scored Iacobucci, then Dosch and Crist scored on a sacrifice fly and a ground out, respectively.
YSU scored its final two runs in the sixth as Iacobucci and Dosch, who also had three hits, again opened with singles and eventually scored on a ground out and wild pitch.