MILWAUKEE – A two-hour weather delay proved to be what the Youngstown State Penguins needed on Friday afternoon as the visiting Penguins outscored the Milwaukee Panthers 15-4 after the delay to run away with a 20-14 win.
 
The Panthers scored the first six runs of the game and held a 10-5 lead when play was stopped with two down in the bottom of the fifth inning. Tyler Bickers helped Milwaukee build the early advantage with three RBIs in the first three innings and finished the game with a team-best four runs batted in.
 
Gabe Roessler, Justin Hausser, Bickers, and Charlie Marion each had three hits apiece in the first four positions for Milwaukee, while Caden Headlee had two hits out of the fifth position in the lineup.
 
"They're seeing the ball well," said head coach Shaun Wegner after the game. "They're making really good swing decisions, and we just have to keep stringing good at bats together and if we can pass the bat down the line, we're going to score a lot of runs."
 
Kyle Fossum had a home run in the top of the fifth inning to trim the early Milwaukee advantage in half at 10-5. After the lengthy weather delay, the Panthers were held scoreless in the bottom of the frame, the first time they had not scored in an inning all game.
 
The momentum swung back in favor of the Penguins as they scored the next 12 runs over the next three innings to take a 17-10 lead.
 
"We came out swinging the bats and we put a lot of pressure on their staff early," added Wegner. "Then after the weather delay, they came out with a lot of energy, and credit to them as they were all over the barrel and our guys were flat and they took advantage of it."
 
After the Penguins added onto their lead with three in the top of the ninth, the Panthers refused to go down quietly with four runs in the bottom half of the inning but did not have enough to overcome the deficit.
 
Caleb Hadley led the YSU offense with three hits, including two doubles, and had a team-best four RBIs. Jay Wrona walked five times, while Fossum and Tommy Rover had three RBIs each.
 
Harun Pelja was impressive in four innings of relief with seven strikeouts after the weather delay as he earned his third win of the season.
 
Eight pitchers saw time on the hill for Milwaukee including Keagon Kaufmann who struck out five over his three innings of work. Tyler Deleskiewicz struck out two batters, while Logan Dobberstein did not allow a hit as he got the final two outs in the ninth inning for Milwaukee.
 
The rubber match of the weekend set will take place on Saturday afternoon at Franklin Field as the Panthers and Penguins will get underway at 12:00 p.m. Prior to the game the Panthers will celebrate their 13-member senior class with an on-field recognition ceremony.