Thursday, March 27, 2014
Staff report
ATHENS
The Youngstown State baseball team scored four runs in the fifth inning and four more in the eighth en route to an 11-4 victory over Ohio on Wednesday at Bob Wren Stadium.
Jason Shirley was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs, and David Saluga and Brent Gillespie both had two hits. The Penguins had 11 hits, one fewer than the Bobcats, but they drew 10 walks.
Ohio’s Mitch Longo was 3-for-4.
The Bobcats scored an unearned run in the bottom of the second to go up 1-0, but YSU scored 11 of the next 12 runs to take control of the game. Shane Willoughby walked, Gillespie doubled and Matt Sullivan walked to load the bases with nobody out in the fifth. Shirley then brought in Willoughby and Gillespie with a two-run single to right. Shirley and Sullivan later scored on fielder’s choices.
Shirley and Mike Accardi had RBIs in the sixth to push the lead to 6-2, and the Penguins went on to score four runs in the eighth to go up 10-2. Alex Larivee, Josh White and Nick DiNello all had RBIs in the inning, and Kevin Hix scored on a passed ball. Kurt Laver scored in the top of the ninth to put the Penguins up 11-2.
Jake Madsen singled in two runs in the bottom of the ninth.
Alex Frey got the victory in relief. Starter Brendon Shoemake did not allow an earned run in two innings, and Jared Wight, Frey and Josh North all had scoreless outings.
YSU is scheduled to open Horizon League play Friday against Wright State at Kelly Automotive Park in Butler, Pa. First pitch is set for noon.