YSU loses home finale to Kent State

Golden Flashes win at Eastwood

Staff report

NILES

The Youngstown State baseball team fell 5-1 to Kent State in a special Akron Children’s Hospital Kids Day game on Tuesday at Eastwood Field. More than 3,000 local students were in attendance at the contest.

The Golden Flashes limited the Penguins to just five hits. Nick LaBrasca recorded a double and an RBI while Jeff Wehler, Nick Caruso, Web Charles and Lucas Nasonti each singled.

Kent State got two runners aboard with one out with the help of a walk and an error in the top of the first inning. Pete Schuler hit a two-out, two-run double down the right field line later in the inning to put the Golden Flashes in front 2-0.

The Penguins got runners to second and third in the bottom of the third after KSU committed a pair of errors but were unable to take advantage.

Josh Hollander reached on a one-out single in the top half of the fourth and Reilly Hawkins followed with a ground-rule double down the right field line to place runners and second and third. Mason Mamarella then drove both baserunners home with a two-run single to increase the Kent State lead to 4-0.

Ben Carew reached on a bunt single with one out in the top of the eighth and came around to score on a double by Hollander to extend the KSU advantage to 5-0.

In the home half of the eighth, Blaze Glenn walked with one out and advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches. Nick Massey walked and Andrew Kendrick was hit by a pitch to load the bases. LaBrasca followed with an RBI groundout that scored Glenn to give the Penguins their first run but Kent State was able to limit the damage.

The Penguins threatened again in the ninth with a pair of hits from Charles and Nasonti but Austin Havekost would come on to retire two straight batters to end the game and earn the save.

Hollander paced the Golden Flashes with three hits while Mamarella, Hawkins and Schuler each had two. Mamarella and Schuler each had a pair of RBIs.

Ryan Lane was awarded the win after allowing just one hit and striking out five over three scoreless innings. Dalton Earich was saddled with the loss after surrendering two unearned runs on four hits over three innings of work.

The Penguins conclude the regular season with a three-game, Horizon League series at UIC beginning Thursday at 7:35 p.m.