Milwaukee Athletics

NILES, Ohio – A seven-run ninth-inning rally by Milwaukee was not enough as the Panthers were unable to dig themselves out of an early deficit in a 13-11 loss to Youngstown State on Friday morning.
 
The Panthers trailed 9-0 after four innings before Milwaukee began chipping away in the fifth with a three-run home run by Charlie Marion. Dominic Kibler added a solo home run in the sixth.
 
Trailing 13-4 heading to the ninth, Marion had a one-out double before the second out of the inning was recorded.  Kibler was hit by a pitch, and Bradyn Horn singled to score Marion. Spence singled to bring Kibler home, and Connor Bozak was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
 
John Hadley VI and Tate Schmidt drew consecutive bases-loaded walks to make it 13-8 before a wild pitch allowed Bozak to score. Grant Ross connected on a two-run single to draw the Panthers within two. Milwaukee could not continue its momentum, however, as Youngstown State survived the late surge.
 
 
Milwaukee was outhit, 16-9 on the game, but drew six walks to just one issued by Panther pitching. Jack Messmore had three of Youngstown State's hits on the day and drove in a game-high five runs. Ryan Schummer also drove in three for the Penguins.
 
YSU scored the first nine runs of the game, chasing Panther starter Gavin Theis in the process. Theis struck out three batters over the first 3 1/3 innings for Milwaukee.
 
"I thought we came out flat and nonchalant and that's what the scoreboard showed as well," said head coach Shaun Wegner. "It was a day where they had over 3,000 people in the stands, so there was no reason not to feel some energy. We got what we deserved, and it stinks, but tomorrow is a completely different opportunity. 
 
Marion's homer run sliced the deficit to 9-3, before Youngstown State added one in the bottom of the fifth to restore a seven-run lead. Kibler connected on his eighth home run of the year to tie Marion and Dylan O'Connell for the team lead on the season.
 
The Penguins added two more runs off Aiden Fishnick in the bottom of the sixth and another insurance run in the eighth to take its 13-4 lead into the ninth. Fishnick provided yeoman's work out of the bullpen for the Panthers, striking out five in a career-high 4 2/3 innings.
 
Having previously erased eight-run deficits against Northern Kentucky and St. Thomas earlier in the season, nine runs proved to be just out of reach for the Panthers. Milwaukee scored seven runs in the ninth, chasing Aidan English, who was vying for a three-inning save before Kale Wemer came on to close the door.
 
"I was happy with the continued fight and battle we showed when many teams may have just quit," Wegner said. "To have the tying run at the plate when the game ended, being down nine entering the ninth, speaks to what this offense can do when it gets rolling. I'm hopeful we can carry that feeling into tomorrow's contest and use it for all nine innings."
 
Braden Gebhardt earned his fourth win of the season, while Theis suffered the loss for the Panthers.
 
Milwaukee and Youngstown State will play game two of the series on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. (CT).