Bowling Green State University
Youngstown State
Penguins Out-Slug Falcons, 18-13, In In-State Non-Conference Tilt
April 01, 2008 | Baseball
April 1, 2008
STRUTHERS, Ohio - In a game that saw gusty winds aid in both teams scoring 31 total runs, the Youngstown State University Penguins were able to out-slug the Bowling Green State University baseball team on Tuesday afternoon as they downed the Falcons 18-13 at Cene Park in Struthers, Ohio. The Falcons finished a single run and hit shy of their season-high totals in the game, but surrendered 21 hits to YSU, which tied a season-high as they fell to 11-8, while YSU improved to 6-15.
The loss ended the Falcons' win streak, which had reached five already for the second time this season. BG entered the contest having won 10 of their last 11 games, a feat that hadn't been done since the 2001 season.
The Falcons, who had 12 total players collect hits during the afternoon, were paced on the by junior Brian Hangbers, who finished just a triple away from hitting for the cycle. The Hamilton, Ohio native finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored and five RBI, which included his third home run of the season in the Falcon fifth.
Derek Spencer and Dennis Vaughn also collected multiple-RBI on the day as each finished with three runs driven in. Spencer went 1-for-2 with a run scored, while Vaughn finished 1-for-3, also scoring a run. Mark Galvin then added three hits, going 3-for-4 as he and Hangbers were the lone Falcons with multiple-hits.
BG started the game's scoring by platting single runs in the top half of the first and second to own a 2-1 lead heading into the third. However, after adding another run to their total in the third, YSU struck for seven runs in the bottom half of the inning to surge out to an 8-3 lead. BG struck back with a seven-spot of their own in the top of the fifth to re-take the lead at 10-8, but two YSU runs in the bottom half of the inning would tie the game up once again.
Finally in the bottom of the seventh, the Penguins were able to plate six runs to break the game open as the Falcons could only muster three runs to YSU's eight.
Taking the loss on the day for BG was junior right-hander Marty Baird (0-2), who tossed 1.1 innings of relief, giving up six runs on six hits. He replaced Hangbers on the hill in the sixth after Hangbers tossed three innings of relief for starter Brennan Smith.
Smith, making his second career start in the game, went two innings, surrendering five runs (four earned) on six hits.
Despite the lack of the success on the mound, the Falcons' hitting was able to keep them in the game. Trailing 8-3 in the bottom of the fifth, Hangbers started a Falcon rally, which saw them jump back to a lead at 10-8. Hangbers jumped on the first pitch thrown by Penguin starter Adam Kalafos and belted it deep over the fence in right center to pull the score to 8-4. One single and a walk later, a sacrifice bunt from Chris Gacom placed Falcon runners on second and third with just a single out.
That would be where Vaughn would collect all three of his RBI in the game as he, like Hangbers, jumped on the first offering from Kalafos. The result was his first homer of the season as his hit just cleared the foul poll down the right field line to bring the Falcons within a single run.
Joe Antinone came in to relieve Kalafos a single batter later after Clay Duncan reached first on a fielding error. A bunt single by Travis Owens and a sacrifice by Ryan Shay again put runners at second and third with two outs. Andrew Foster drew a five-pitch walk to load the bags then for Hangbers, who cleared them with a three-RBI double to right center to give BG a 10-8 lead.
YSU would answer back though with six runs in the seventh and two more in the eighth as the Falcons came up five runs short, falling for the first time in nearly two and a half weeks.
Earning the victory for YSU was Antinone (1-1) who tossed three innings of relief, giving up five runs on six hits.
Pacing the Penguins were left fielder Eric Marzec and center fielder Cory Hornyak, who both recorded three hits.
BG will return to action on Wednesday afternoon when they host Wright State at 3 p.m. at Warren E. Steller Field. The game can be heard on WFAL 1610 AM with live statistics also available at www.bgsufalcons.com.
