Big ninth inning helps lift Akron baseball past YSU

Staff report

NILES

The University of Akron baseball team scored six runs in the top of the ninth inning to break open a close game and take a 9-2 victory over Youngstown State on Wednesday afternoon at Eastwood Field.

The game was eventually called prior to completion in the bottom of the ninth when rain and lightning moved into the area.

Akron (15-35) belted out 14 hits — including six in the final inning.

Sam Watkins and Kurt Gamby both homered in the ninth inning. Watkins’ blast — a three-run shot — was his third home run in four games, while Gamby’s solo home run two batters later was his second in four contests.

Shortstop Dan Hurlimann had two of YSU’s seven hits.

“Our starters hit well and our pitchers gave us some strong innings,” YSU head coach Rich Pasquale said.

Akron got on the board in the top of the first when Matt Corpora doubled down the right field line with one away. Corpora moved to third on a Watkins single and scored when YSU starter Blake Aquadro’s pickoff attempt to first sailed wide and skipped away from first baseman Jeremy Banks.

The Penguins (12-36) tied the game in the fourth by taking advantage of a walk and a hit batter to load the bases with one out. After a failed squeeze attempt, Pusateri issued a bases loaded walk to make the score 1-1.

SDLqWe shot ourselves in the foot on the basepaths,” Pasquale said. “We missed some signs and got caught and that just can’t happen this late in the season.”

With the Horizon League tournament approaching, Pasquale said, “We need to get good starting pitching and go after it. We want to get some momentum. “This team has suffered a lot of losses, but we have a good atmosphere. The guys are staying together and I’m really happy with this group of kids. They’re working hard.”