Saturday, May 11, 2019
Penguins, Flames
continue Horizon play today, Sunday
Staff report
Chicago
The Youngstown State baseball team battled back from a three-run deficit, but ultimately fell 4-3 to UIC in the opener of three-game series on Friday at Curtis Granderson Stadium.
The Flames scored three times over the first four innings to grab a 3-0 lead before the Penguins used a three-run sixth to even the score. UIC plated what proved to be the winning run on two hits in the bottom of the seventh.
With the victory, UIC improved to 22-20 overall and 14-10 in Horizon League play while YSU dropped to 12-35 and 6-16.
UIC out-hit YSU 8-5, and the Flames’ bullpen held the Penguins without a hit over the final three innings. YSU’s first hit did not come until the top of the fifth inning. All three of the Penguins’ runs and three of their five hits came during the three-run rally in the sixth.
Drew Dickerson led YSU with two hits including game-tying two-run double in the sixth. Lucas Nasonti, Phillip Glasser and Trevor Wiersma each added base hits for the Penguins.
UIC starter Jacob Key retired the first 11 hitters he faced while holding YSU scoreless over the first five frames.
The Penguins loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the sixth after Nasonti and Glasser hit back-to-back singles and Blaze Glenn walked. Jeff Wehler brought home Nasonti with a groundout, and Wiermsa followed with a walk to fill the base paths again. Dickerson then hit a two-run double down the right field line to tie the score at 3.
The Flames regained a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the seventh when Ryan Lin-Peistrup hit a one-out triple to left center and scored on an RBI single by Patrick. Colin Clark had retired eight straight batters before Lin-Peistrup’s three-bagger.
Game two of the series is set for 2:05 p.m. today.
The series finale is scheduled at 1:05 p.m. on Sunday.
YSU hosts Ohio State at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Eastwood Field in Niles.