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March 25, 2008
IUP bounced back from an early 3-0 deficit but an 18-hit Youngstown State attack proved too much to overcome as the Penguins defeated the Crimson Hawks 12-4 Tuesday in Youngstown, Ohio. The game was the first against a Division I opponent in 12 years for IUP, which saw its six-game winning streak come to an end. The Crimson Hawks (16-5) entered the week ranked No. 5 in the North Atlantic Region and 30th in the country in the National College Baseball Writers of America polls. IUP's last games against a Division I opponent came in 1996 when it faced Pitt and Boston College during its spring trip to Florida. Youngstown State scored twice in the first and once in the third to take a 3-0 lead before IUP struck back with three in the top of the fourth to tie the game. Shane Melhorn singled and scored on a triple by Paul Bingham, who ran his hitting streak to 17 games dating back to the final two contests of the 2007 season. Bingham tied Jamie Smith and Shawn Schwarz for the team lead in three-base hits with three. Shayne Busti followed the Bingham triple with a single to bring IUP to within 3-2. Busti was picked off first and Schwarz struck out, but the Crimson Hawks weren't finished in the inning. T.J. Nichols singled with two outs and came across on a double by Kyle Stryker to even the game at 3. The Penguins retook the lead with two in the fifth and busted the game open with four in the sixth, including a two-run homer by Anthony Munoz, to build a 9-3 lead. Jake Rougeaux took the loss for IUP while Adam Kalafos, Youngstown State's No. 2 pitcher, struck out 11 in eight innings to earn the win. Josh Page and Joe Iacobucci both had four hits for the Penguins, with Iacobucci driving in four runs. IUP returns to the Division II ranks on Wednesday with a doubleheader at Seton Hill in the makeup of games that were rained out earlier this month. |
