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April 27, 2003
Freshmen
Help YSU to 7-3 Win Over Butler
Niles, Ohio --
Freshman left-hander Justin Thomas
struck out a career-high 11 batters
while pitching seven strong innings
and freshman shortstop J.J. Newman
had career-best three RBI in a 7-3
win over Butler at Cafaro Field on
Sunday afternoon.
With the victory, YSU (20-21 overall and 8-8 in the Horizon
League) avoided the sweep by the
Bulldogs (24-22 and 10-6) and ended
a four-game losing streak and a
five-game home losing skid.
Thomas was sharp in his seven innings picking up 11
strikeouts and scattering six hits.
His three runs allowed were all
unearned. Freshman Kevin Libeg
tossed 1.1 innings of relief
striking out two and Josh Wells
retired both Bulldogs he faced in
the ninth to end the game.
On the afternoon, YSU started seven freshmen -- five position
players, the designated hitter and
pitcher -- and did not have a senior
in the starting lineup. All three
Youngstown pitchers were freshmen.
The Bulldogs took an
early advantage by plating two
unearned runs in the top of the
first inning, but YSU answered with
an unearned run in the bottom half
of the inning, then erupted for
three runs on three hits in the
bottom of the second to take a 4-2
lead. Justin Banks and Jim Phillips
led off the inning with back-to-back
singles, then Banks scored on a
throwing error on a sacrifice bunt
from Brian Boone. Newman drove home
Phillips on a fielder's choice and
Boone scored on a double play to
give the Penguins a two-run
advantage.
Butler threatened to diminish the
YSU advantage in the top of the
third by loading the bases with one
out, but Justin Thomas forced an
infield fly and a strikeout to
thwart the Bulldog attack.
The Penguins added two more runs in
the fifth on three hits. Adam Cox
led off the inning with a single up
the middle then advanced to third
when Ty Furino doubled to left. The
Bulldogs elected to issue Boone an
intentional walk to load the bases
and put the force play in effect,
but Newman spoiled the plan with a
two-run single up the middle that
gave the Penguins a 6-2 lead.
YSU added to the lead in the sixth when Brandon Caipen
singled and came around to score on
Cox's first career triple. Butler
added an unearned run in the
seventh.
The
Bulldogs stranded eight runners in
the first four innings and 14 for
the game. YSU also left 11 men on
base. The Penguins pounded three
Butler pitchers for 12 hits and
handed Aaron Phillips (4-4) the
loss.
The Penguins return to action on Tuesday night at 7 at Cafaro
Field playing host to Kent State.
The game will broadcast live on 1390
AM WNIO in Youngstown. |
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