April 11, 2008 | Box Score

Late Homers Fuel Walk-Off 10-Inning Win Over UIC

    Niles, Ohio -- Sophomore Eric Marzec's 10th-inning home run to left off UIC reliever Adam Worthington capped a wild comeback as the Youngstown State baseball team defeated the league-leading Flames 6-5 on Friday at Eastwood Field.

    Marzec's first career homer with one out in the bottom of the 10th marked the second straight inning the Penguins homered. Trailing 5-3 with two outs in the ninth, pinch-hitter Josh Page tied the game hitting his second dinger of the year.

    UIC (19-11 and 8-2 in the Horizon League) grabbed a two-run lead in the top of the ninth on a two-RBI single by Brett Schaefer before YSU (11-19 and 4-3) answered to force extras on Page's blast.

    The Flames had grabbed their first two-run lead of the game in the top of the seventh scoring runs between a rain delay.

    UIC scored a run on a bunt-single with two outs in the top of the seventh to take a 2-1 lead against Youngstown State before the game was suspended approximately 45 minutes for a rain delay.

    Once the rain delay ended, the Flames picked up another run on a ground-rule double by Schafer.

    For the Penguins, starter Chuck Schiffhauer pitched seven innings allowing eight hits, picking up two strikeouts and no walks. Adam Kalafos (2-3) pitched three innings surrendering two hits and striking out two while walking none. UIC starter Derrick Miramontes went eight innings, but did not factor in the decision.
     The Flames broke a scoreless tie in the third thanks to two consecutive bunts following Jason Ganek's leadoff double. Leadoff hitter Steve McGuiggan's sacrifice advanced Ganek to third, and the run came home when Rubio reached on a bunt single.
    YSU tied the score in the fifth with two hits off of UIC starter Derrick Miramontes. C.J. Morris singled through the left side with one out, and Anthony Munoz followed with a single to right with the hit and run on. David Leon then brought home Morris with a sacrifice fly to center.
    The Penguins had a chance to tie the score in the sixth with two more hits with one out. Erich Diedrich singled down the right field line, and Tom Clayton followed with a line-drive base hit to right that put runners at the corners. However, Miramontes got Eric Marzec to fly out to shallow center and Anthony Porter to ground into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
    UIC got its second run with two outs in the top of the seventh when Rafael Garcia scored on Jake Carr's bunt single. Garcia was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and Ganek moved him to second on a sacrifice bunt. Garcia then moved to third on McGuiggan's ground out to short, and Carr followed with his bunt single.
    The Penguins and Flames will also play a doubleheader Saturday starting at Noon.