YSU roundup

BASEBALL

Strong pitching, late hit help Penguins prevail

NILES

Web Charles hit a go-ahead two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning, and the Youngstown State baseball team got solid pitching in a 3-1 victory over Northern Kentucky on Sunday at Eastwood Field. With the bases loaded and one out, Charles hit the first pitch of his at bat up the middle into centerfield to plate Alex Larivee and Andrew Kendrick. Northern Kentucky got the go-ahead run to the plate in the top of the ninth inning before Kevin Yarabinec struck out Trey Ganns on a 3-2 slider to end the game. Charles, Larivee and Anthony Rohan had two hits apiece, and Larivee also scored twice for Youngstown State. YSU starter Collin Floyd held NKU two one run on two hits and four walks while striking out four batters, and he left with a runner on in the sixth. Joel Hake and Yarabinec both pitched two shutout innings to close out the win. Youngstown State took an early 1-0 lead when Larivee walked, stole second and scored on Ryan Cordova’s two-out single in the bottom of the first. Floyd worked around baserunners in each of the first five innings to keep the lead, and he hit Ty Amann to start the sixth in what was his final batter. Hake came on and struck out Dominic Mercurio, but NKU executed well in hits next two at bats to tie the score. With Amann running on the pitch, Kyle Colletta poked a soft ground ball through the hole on the left side as Charles went to cover second base. Then with runners at the corners, Brad Bohlen’s squeeze bunt plated Amann to tie the score at 1-1. Hake got the final two outs of the sixth to begin a stretch of 10 straight outs by the Penguins bullpen to set up Charles’ heroics.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Singles dominate Milwaukee

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown State women’s tennis team down Milwaukee, 6-1, on Sunday thanks to some strong singles performances. YSU won five out of six singles matches and four of those wins came in straight sets. The straight set winners were Dominika Lackova over Labina Petrovska (6-0,-6-4), Annina Brendel over Hayley Marshall (6-4, 6-1), Alysa Straub over Sofia Macias (6-4, 6-4) and Nehel Sahni over Dana Shannon (6-4, 6-3). Ana Store dropped the first set against Aerielle Pendleton, but took the next two to win (3-6, 6-3, 10-5). Milwaukee’s Alysa Straub defeated Sofia Macias (6-4, 6-4). In doubles action, the Penguins’ second and third doubles teams of Lackova and Macias and Brendel and Julianna Heino were both victorious by scores of 6-4 and 7-5, respectively.

MENS GOLF

Penguins take 10th at Penn State

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA.

The Youngstown State men’s golf team carded a final round 293 on Sunday at the 40th Annual PSU Rutherford Intercollegiate. YSU finished 10th at the 11-team event. On Saturday, the Penguins had rounds of 303 and 304 to fire a 900 for the tournament. Penn State was first with an 843 while West Virginia was second and Xavier finished third. Leading the way for YSU was senior South Range graduate Brandon Pluchinsky. The reigning Horizon League Golfer of the Week finished 22nd with a three-round 219. Pluchinsky had scores of 74 and 73 on Saturday and a 72 on Sunday. Senior D.J. Holub was 35th with a 224 with rounds of 74, 74 and 76. Senior Bill Gaffney finished a 229 following rounds of 77, 81 and 71. His final round 71 was the lowest score by a Penguin in the tournament. Steven Sveda finished 61st with a 235 (83-78-74), Jason McQuown was 65th with a 240 (78-79-83) while Justin Hallapy placed 67th with a 243 (80-81-82). The Penguins are next in action at the Horizon League Men’s Golf Championships on Friday at Howey-In-The-Hills, Fla.

Staff report