Thursday, May 26, 2011
YSU 4
MILWAUKEE 2
Next: YSU vs. Wright State, today, 7 p.m.
Staff report
DAYTON
Youngstown State scored four runs in the eighth inning and got an outstanding performance from senior pitcher Phil Klein to defeat Milwaukee, 4-2, in the first round of the Horizon League baseball tournament on Wednesday.
The sixth-seeded Penguins (13-39) advance to play top-seeded Wright State (33-17) today at 7 p.m.
Klein allowed two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out 10 in eight innings. He blanked the Panthers for seven innings and didn’t allow a run until two outs in the eighth.
Klein outdueled Horizon League pitcher of the year Chad Pierce, who also did not allow a run for the first seven innings.
“We got an outstanding outing today by Phil,” YSU coach Rich Pasquale said. “He showed that he can dominate today. He got good defense behind him, and we came up clutch for him in the eighth.”
Pierce walked Drew Dosch to start the eighth, and Jeremy Banks followed with a single to center. David Leon then reached on an infield hit to load the bases with one out. Pierce walked Joe Iacobucci to force in the game’s first run, and he left after starting pinch-hitter Jonathan Crist off with a ball.
Greg Blohowiak came in for relief, and Crist laid down a bunt single near the first base line to bring in Banks. Dan Hurlimann singled through the right side with the infield drawn in to plate Leon, and Iacobucci scored on Padraic Willams’ fielder’s choice.
Klein allowed a single and a walk to start the bottom of the eighth. Sam Koenig was hit by a pitch to load the bases, then Jonathan Capasso hit a two-run single to center to score two runs.