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Penguins collapse to Wright State
Wright State erupts for five runs in the sixth inning to win at Eastwood Field
By BRANDON JUDEH
NILES
Youngstown State starting pitcher Blake Aquadro quieted the Wright State bats through five innings, but a five-run sixth inning propelled the Raiders to Saturday’s 6-3 win.
Aquadro threw a steady mix of fastballs and change-ups that held the Wright State offense to one run over the first five innings.
“I was throwing change-ups and fastballs and would throw in a slider every once in a while, but the key was that I was able to throw strikes consistently and let them get themselves out,” Aquadro said.
And he was helped out, early on, by the offense.
Small ball and Drew Dosch helped give the Penguins the lead in the fifth inning.
After a Jack Graham walk and a David Leon bloop single, Phil Lipari laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners and set up an RBI opportunity for Dosch.
The third baseman delivered with a two-run double into the gap in right field to break the 1-1 tie.
“I was sitting fastball and that’s what I got and I was able to handle it,” Dosch said.
Things, however, would fall apart for the Penguins (9-37, 7-19 Horizon League) in the sixth.
Corey Davis started the scoring off for the Raiders (35-16, 19-7) with an RBI double, which knocked Aquadro out of the game.
Kevin McCulloh replaced him, but wasn’t able to hold the lead. He gave up an RBI single to Justin Kopale and another run scored on a throwing error to give Wright State the lead for good.
Later in the inning, another throwing error scored two more, giving the Raiders a three-run cushion.
That was more than enough for the Raiders pitching staff, as they held YSU scoreless for the final four innings.
Coach Rich Pasquale says that there was one thing that cost YSU in the second part of the game.
“Errors,” Pasquale said.
“We pitched better, Blake did an outstanding job, we did what we needed to do with the bats, but the errors cost us.”
In the bottom of the ninth, Wright State closer Michael Schum came in and shut the door on the Penguins. He sent them down in order to pick up his 12th save of the season.
Despite losing the past two games, the Penguins have been playing well and hope to carry this momentum into the last week of the season and the Horizon League tournament.
“Coming into this series we won five out of six, we are playing better and hopefully we can carry this momentum into the tournament and keep playing well,” Dosch said. “And if we do, I don’t think there is a team in the league that we can’t beat come tournament time.”
The Penguins squandered an opportunity in the fourth when Craig Goubeaux hit into a double play to end the inning, stranding a runner on second.
Jason Shirley had a solid game for the Penguins, notching two hits and playing great defense in center field. Aquadro pitched five-and-one-third innings and gave up five hits.