NILES, Ohio – Jack Cavanaugh and Jack Kraus hit solo home runs but that was all the Milwaukee baseball team could push across as the Panthers fell 3-2 to Youngstown State on Friday night.
 
"It was a tough loss and a well-pitched game from both sides," head coach Scott Doffek commented. "We had opportunities here and there but couldn't take advantage. I loved the passion we played with, we just have to come out tomorrow with the same energy and execute just a little better."
 
Riley Frey got the start for the Panthers (19-29, 16-21 Horizon League) and held the Penguins at bay, recording his 10th appearance with at least 5.0 innings and three earned runs or less allowed.
 
Frey recorded his first-career complete game, tossing 8.0 innings in Ohio and scattering seven hits while walking two and striking out four.
 
For the Penguins, Collin Floyd worked 5.0 innings of five-hit ball, striking out seven to pick up the win.
 
Youngstown State (30-21, 22-15 Horizon League) grabbed an early lead as they took advantage of a leadoff double from Jeff Wehler. The senior advanced to third on a flyout and later scored on a balk to put YSU on top 1-0.
 
After another Penguins score in the fourth, Cavanaugh ripped an 0-2 pitch to left to cut the deficit in half.
 
YSU answered, however, as Wehler tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly to put MKE in a 3-1 hole through five innings.
 
The Panthers threatened in the ninth with a leadoff homer from Kraus but the Penguins' Colin Clark got a pair of flyouts and a groundout around a Cavanaugh single to end it.
 
Cavanaugh finished 2-for-4 on the day while Luke Seidel also had a pair of hits.
 
Milwaukee and Youngstown State will return to the diamond tomorrow for a doubleheader with first pitch scheduled for 12:00 pm CT. Live coverage links can be found on MKEPanthers.com.