Valpo’s Wild pitcher shuts down Penguins
NILES
Youngstown State baseball coach Rich Pasquale will tinker with his lineup, pitching staff and managing strategy any way he can so his team can get a win.
He’ll have to keep trying.
The Penguins were shut out by Valpariso, 10-0, at Eastwood Field on Saturday afternoon dropping their eighth straight and 12th of the last 14.
“We’re going to keep coming out here and mixing things up to put us in the best position to win,” Pasquale said. “It’s more frustrating when you can get eight hits and not get a run across. We’re just not cashing in.
“We just have to keep searching for a combo that’s going to bring runs in.”
It was just the second time YSU was shut out with the other coming in an 8-0 loss to UIC. Valpo got five runs in the third.
The Crusaders used Kevin Wild on the mound — their top strikeout pitcher who boasts a 2.95 earned run average. The senior went eight innings, allowed just five hits and two walks, while topping out at 102 pitches. He retired 11 batters in a row from the fifth to eighth innings. Wild drew comparisons to former MLB pitcher Greg Maddux from Pasquale and grief from Penguin batters.
“He’d start off hitting his spots with a low fastball away that you can’t really do much against,” said designated hitter Jeremy Banks. “He just gets you in that hole and you’re not going to be very effective at the plate when the pitcher always gets ahead of you.”
YSU (4-29) had its best chances to score in the fifth and ninth innings. Marcus Heath led off the fifth with a double, then Phil Lipari walked. David Leon struck out for the first out and with No. 9 hitter, Padraic Williams, stepping in, Pasquale called for a hit and run. It successfully moved Heath and Lipari to second and third, but Williams was easily out at first with a soft dribbler to the first baseman.
“We try to open up something. Padraic does a good job of getting contact,” Pasquale said. “Our biggest thing with hit and run is advancing hitters one bag, if we get two — that’s a bonus. The biggest thing was getting guys on second and third with, arguably, our best hitter coming up.”
That’s Drew Dosch. However, the sophomore third baseman grounded out for the third out. He was 0-for-4.
The Penguins loaded the bases in the ninth with singles from Craig Goubeaux and Banks. David Saluga was hit by a pitch, but was struck by a ground ball for out No. 1 on a Lipari hit. Leon popped out and Jack Graham struck out to end it.
Nic Manupelli made his first start of the year, going three innings, surrendering seven hits and six runs.