Kendrick shatters YSU’s homer record

Staff report

NILES

Andrew Kendrick hit two home runs to become Youngstown State’s single-season record holder as the Penguins beat Wright State 5-2 to split a doubleheader at Eastwood Field on Sunday.

YSU lost the opener 16-4 before bouncing back to hand the Raiders their first Horizon League loss.

Kendrick hit his 12th home run on the first pitch of the fourth inning as the junior first baseman cleared the Wright State bullpen just inside the left-field foul pole to tie Jacke Healey’s record that was set in 2010.

The record-setting swing came on a 3-0 pitch to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning, and the ball sailed over the fence in left center for his 13th round-tripper in 24 games.

Kendrick’s 13th dinger gave the Penguins a 5-2 lead, which was more than enough for winning pitcher Jeremy Quinlan. The senior right-hander earned the complete-game victory, holding Wright State to two runs on five hits and three walks over nine innings.

Quinlan made 136 pitches and struck out seven batters, and he fought through a jam in the ninth to finish what he started.

YSU’s Nico Padovan doubled home Lou Cardona and scored on an error. Kendrick’s first home run put the Penguins up 3-2, and it was the first of three straight round-trippers to start innings for YSU.

Alex Larivee led off the fifth with his second bomb of the season, and Kendrick’s record-setting homer started the sixth.

Quinlan retired 10 straight batters before walking Gabe Snyder with one out in the top of the ninth. He then allowed a double to Seth Gray that put runners at second and third and brought the tying run to the plate.

Quinlan came back from down 3-0 in the count to Cory Heffron to get him to foul out to Kendrick. Quinlan then got Zach Weatherford to ground out to short to end the game.

Kendrick and Padovan both had two of YSU’s eight hits, and J.D. Orr and Whatley combined for four of Wright State’s five hits.