Penguins Reach 30 Wins

[IAA Fan]

The Youngstown State baseball team has reached 30 wins for just the second time in program history after a 3-2 victory over Milwaukee in the series opener on Friday at Eastwood Field.

Youngstown State won its fifth straight game to improve to 30-21 overall, 22-15 in Horizon League play and 17-3 at Eastwood Field. Milwaukee falls 19-29 overall and 16-21 in league action. The Penguins have reached the 30-win plateau for the first time since going 37-17 in 1995. YSU has also won 17 home games for the second time in program history and for the first time since 1977.

The Penguins scored single runs in the first and fourth innings to take a 2-0 lead before Milwaukee scored once in the fifth to pull within a run. YSU got the run back in the home half of the fifth to take a 3-1 advantage before Milwaukee scored once in the ninth to produce the final margin.

YSU starter Collin Floyd allowed one run on five hits and had seven strikeouts over five innings to earn his ninth victory of the season. With nine wins on the season, Floyd has tied the single-season school record that was set by Joe Herubin in 1989. With his second strikeout of the game in the top of the second inning, Floyd became just the third player in school history to record 100 strikeouts in a season. He is the first Penguin since Phil Klein in 2011 to reach 100 strikeouts in a campaign.

After allowing a leadoff single in the first inning, the senior left-hander retired the next six batters he faced as he retired the side in order in the second. The Akron, Ohio, native recorded a strikeout in each of the five innings he was on the mound, and he had multiple punch outs in two different frames.

Colin Clark allowed one run on three hits and struck out a pair over four innings of relief to earn his first save of the season. The senior southpaw retired the first eight batters he faced as he retired the side in order in the sixth and seventh innings.

Jeff Wehler went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and was a home run shy of the cycle while Blaze Glenn went 2-for-3 with a run scored.

The Penguins jumped out to an early lead with one run on one hit in the bottom of the first inning. Wehler hit a leadoff double, advanced to third on fly out by Phillip Glasser and scored on a balk.

YSU pushed its lead to 2-0 with one run on three hits and an error in the home half of the fourth inning. Glenn hit a leadoff single, advanced to second on a walk by Turner Grau and scored on an error following an infield single by Padraig O'Shaughnessy.

Milwaukee cut YSU's lead in half in the top of the fifth when Jack Cavanaugh led off the inning with a solo home run to left field.

The Penguins increased their advantage to 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth when Wehler hit a leadoff triple and scored on a sacrifice fly from Glasser.

The Panthers scored the final run of the game in the top of the ninth when Jack Kraus led off the inning with a solo home run to center field.

Milwaukee starter Riley Frey took the loss after allowing three runs on seven hits and striking out four batters over eight innings.

Six different Panthers recorded a hit in the contest as Milwaukee outhit YSU 8-7. Luke Seidel and Cavanaugh each had two hits to pace the Panthers offensively.

The Penguins and Panthers will continue their four-game Horizon League series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Live audio will be available at YSNLive.com.

[IAA Fan]

Too bad we collapsed during the tournament. I do not see an at-large bid

[Wick250]

Bertolini has raised our program from being a joke to being a competitive team in a rather weak league. He is to be commended for his efforts. But we have no pitching depth and the defense is average.  We are a long way from having the label "good" attached to our program.

[guinpen]

A nice season overall.

Still need a home field on campus

[Penquin68]

Watched our games yesterday. In the past with our top pitcher, Collin Floyd, we were nearly unbeatable, usually in game 1 of a series. Coach decided to go with the number 2 starter in game 1 against UIC, Colin Clark, probably thinking if we win against UIC that Floyd gives us a better chance in game 2 against probably Wright State.  I think he knew our pitching after the top three guys, including Jon Snyder, is probably not good enough to beat any of the playoff teams with any regularity. It didn't work out as none of our starters gave us the great starts we needed and we were facing the top starters for the opposition. Things like that happen in baseball.

We also had trouble with the other teams bunting. We were had a few times on bunts and it looked to me like our 3rd and 1st baseman were playing positions they did not grow up playing and couldn't make the tough plays.  And I think they stole 4 or 5 bases in each game.  Also our 2nd baseman sure looked like he has a sore arm and cost us a play or 2.

All in all we had a much improved season with hope for the future.  Our limitations were exposed and luck didn't go our way.  Again you need to look at the teams in the tournament. The enrollment at UIC is 29,100, Milwaukee 27,000. Chicago, Milwaukee, and Dayton are much larger cities to get dollars and players for a program and at least Wright State and UIC I think have on campus fields.  Eastwood field is great, but far from campus for practice and games.  This year attendance at home games was good I thought compared to other years, but it doesn't compare to an on campus venue. So as in all YSU sports recruiting is key. With the current Coach our future is good compared to our past.  Recruiting contacts and facilities need to be built and the other top teams have that history and contacts we need to build.  Look at Track and Field.  We are the top team by far. We have a Coach Gorby who has been here at least 20 years. And we have an excellent indoor and outdoor facilities on campus that exceeds the rest of the league.  I think only the new team, IUPUI, has an indoor facility on campus.  As for a baseball field on campus, it would sure be great.  But the cost would be high.  We need President Tressel to stay for a while and maybe we could do it.  I recall when I first was on campus in the 70's the facilities master plan had a baseball complex on campus in Smokey Hollow.  It hasn't happened yet.

[Penquin68]

Just watched Wright State and Tennessee. Wright State leads 8 -5 into the bottom of the 9th. Only need 3 outs before 3 runs. Had a relief pitcher who got out all 7 batters he faced. For some reason they take him out after the 8th inning. A new pitcher in the 9th.  Three batters with one rocket out. He is replaced by a starter to try to get the final 2 outs. He walks the first batter to load the bases. Doesn't want to throw fast balls, Tennessee is a good fast ball hitting team.  Hangs a slow curve ball and a grand slam later they loose 9 - 8. WOW. Why not stick with the guy who got 7 straight outs and see how it goes.  I guess he is a position player also and only pitched a few innings all year.  But he sure looked good today.  Not only YSU with questionable pitching.