April 9, 2008 | Box Score

Akron Scores Final Eight Runs in 8-5 Victory Over YSU

    Niles, Ohio -- Akron scored eight unanswered runs and had four relievers combine to throw six shutout innings to defeat Youngstown State 8-5 on Wednesday.
    The Penguins led 5-0 through three innings before the Zips scored three runs in the fourth, one in the sixth and seventh, two in the eighth and another in the ninth.
    Four of Akron's runs came on two home runs - a three-run shot by Vince Chiera in the fourth and another by Doug McNulty in the sixth.
    YSU took a quick 2-0 lead with two runs on one hit in the first. Sean Lucas drew a four-pitch walk and went to third on Erich Diedrich's ground-rule double. Lucas then scored on a wild pitch, and Diedrich scored on Cory Hornyak's sacrifice fly.
    The Penguins scored two unearned runs in the second on back-to-back RBI singles from John Koehnlein and Sean Lucas. Eric Marzec's sacrifice fly in the third scored Cory Hornyak and gave YSU a 5-0 lead.
    From that point, Akron's five relievers allowed three hits over the next six innings.
    Chiera's line drive three-run homer to left in the fourth got Akron within two, and McNulty hit a solo homer in the sixth to cut the lead to one.
    Drew Turocy's bloop single brought home Brian Kordal with the tying run in the seventh, and a wild pitch and an RBI single by Matt Roberts in the eighth put the Zips ahead 7-5. Kevin Haas drew a bases-loaded walk in the ninth for the final tally.
    Koehnlein finished with three hits to lead YSU while McNulty, Kordal and Turocy had two apiece for Akron.
    Kevin Kumazec got the win for Akron after throwing a scoreless seventh, and Garrett Knoll earned his third save in tossing the ninth. Lucas Engle allowed both runs in the seventh to be charged with the loss. YSU starter Chuck Schiffhauer did not allow a run and surrendered one hit in three innings.
    The Penguins will open up a three-game series with Horizon League-leading UIC on Friday at 7 p.m.