Youngstown State swept at UIC, setting school record for losses

Staff report

CHICAGO

The Youngstown State baseball team went to Illinois-Chicago for the final weekend of the Horizon League season hoping to pick up some momentum for next week’s tournament.

Instead, the Penguins were swept, set a school record for losses, and UIC tied Wright State for the league’s regular-season championship.

The Flames (27-24, 16-7) swept Youngstown State, 2-0 and 13-8, on Friday.

The Penguins (12-39, 7-16) were held to five hits in the opener, then the pitching gave up nine earned runs in the nightcap.

Youngstown State will play Milwaukee in the first round of the league tournament on Wednesday at 3 p.m.

Justin Banks led the Penguins with five hits on the day and a pair of RBIs. Joe Iacobucci added four hits, including a double in the nightcap.

Chris Mitko and Drew Dosch also hit doubles in the second game, and both players drove in two runs.

In the opener, Robert Switka (2-7) allowed two earned runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked only one. Cody Dearth and Eik Okleson finished up with 1 1/3 innings on one-hit relief.

But in the nightcap the Flames scored three runs in the first inning and, after YSU rallied to tie the game at 6, added seven runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Bill Turosky started for YSU, allowing six runs (four earned) in six innings.

Jonathan Crist came on, faced six batters — and all of them scored. Dearth finished up with two innings, allowing one more run.

Neil Schroth added a pair of singles.

Matt Serna hit three doubles for UIC on the day.