Larivee gives YSU walk-off victory

Staff report

NILES

Alex Larivee singled home Jonny Miller with one out in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the Youngstown State baseball team an 11-10, come-from-behind victory over No. 28 Kent State on Tuesday.

The game was the Penguins’ home finale at Eastwood Field. Nearly 3,400 students from area elementary and middle schools were in attendance to root on the Penguins (14-35), who beat a ranked opponent for the first time in 17 years.

It was the second-straight walk-off win at Eastwood Field for YSU. The Penguins’ last last win over a ranked team was April 18, 1999, against No. 29 Oral Roberts.

The Golden Flashes entered Collegiate Baseball’s Top 30 for the first time this week.

They also received votes in the USA Today Coaches and NCBWA polls.

The Penguins trailed 6-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning before scoring the next 10 runs to take a 10-6 lead.

Kent State (39-12) tied the game in the top of the ninth to set the stage for Larivee’s game-winner in the 11th.

Larivee also hit a two-run homer for Youngstown State, and Nico Padovan had three hits.

Zarley Zalewski and Dylan Rosa, Kent State’s third and fourth hitters, combined for seven of the Golden Flashes’ 13 hits.

Jared Wight was outstanding in relief for the Penguins, holding Kent State scoreless and allowing just one hit over three innings. Joel Hake also pitched two shutout innings.

YSU will begin a three-game series at Valparaiso on Thursday at 4 p.m. Eastern.