March 18, 2012

Box Score

NILES, Ohio - Youngstown State University spoiled a quality start from sophomore Mike Schneider, tying the game in the bottom of the ninth inning before prevailing over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team on a walkoff single by Jeremy Banks with two outs in the 11th to win, 4-3, Sunday afternoon at Eastwood Field.

The Panthers (6-11, 2-1 Horizon League) led, 3-2, in the bottom of the ninth inning and had the Penguins (2-15, 1-2 Horizon League) down to their final out with the bases empty. YSU proceeded to tie the game on three consecutive two-out singles and force extra innings.

"That is a tough one to swallow," Milwaukee head coach Scott Doffek said. "We had two outs in the ninth with no one on base and they bang out three consecutive hits to tie it. You have to give their guys credit for getting it done, but that is one we let slip away."

Schneider pitched well enough to win for the second straight start, allowing no earned runs (two unearned) in 6.2 innings. He allowed five hits and added five strikeouts.

"We had all the momentum in our dugout and then we make two concentration errors in the fifth," Doffek said. "They scored two unearned there and we let them right back in it which was unfortunate, because Mike did a great job again. He gave us six very good innings."

Milwaukee had opportunities in both the 10th and 11th, leaving a pair of runners on base in both frames. Its best chance was in the 11th when junior Alex Erdmann singled with one out and stole second. YSU's Ryan Kronos (1-1) worked out of the jam, getting a strikeout and fly ball to end it.

The Penguins continued the late heroics in the 11th. With the bases empty and two outs once again, a single and wild pitch set the stage for Banks. The Horizon League's leading hitter came up big, sending the 3-2 pitch to left center to score the game-winning run.

For the second straight day UWM jumped ahead early, getting a run in the first inning on junior Will Fadness' single. It tacked on two more in the third, scoring once on senior Paul Hoenecke's double before adding the third run on junior Jonathan Capasso's double to right center.

Schneider was making that lead stand up until the fifth, when a pair of UWM errors set up both Penguin runs and made the score 3-2 at the time.

The Panthers ended the day with 11 hits, including a 2-for-3 outing by Fadness and two hits by junior Nick Lingvay. Drew Dosch put together an impressive 5-for-6 day to lead Youngstown.

Milwaukee has just four road games left before finally getting to play at home. Next up, a three-game series at Valparaiso awaits next weekend. First game against the Crusaders is set for Friday with a 3 p.m. start.