2008 Woodie Awards
Penguins' solid pitching, timely hitting leads team to sweep over Valparaiso
Eric Barone, Reporter
Issue date: 4/8/08 Section: Sports
Youngstown State University's baseball team hosted a three game series against Horizon League opponent Valparaiso over the weekend at Eastwood Field. The Penguins started the weekend series with an overall record of 7-17 and 1-3 in league play.
The Penguins kicked off the three-game set in low gear, losing the first game on Friday by the final of 3-4 in 11 innings. This was the second time in the week that the Penguins had to go extra innings. YSU played a 14-inning marathon against Duquesne University picking up an 8-7 win Wednesday, but the Penguins were not as lucky going into extra frames against the Crusaders.
The difference in the game was the gutsy effort by the Valparaiso bullpen as Jay Clites, Steve Godawa and Jay Miller stifled the Penguin bats over the final 3.2 innings of play. Despite being slightly out-pitched by his counterpart, Valparaiso starting pitcher Elliot Gibbs kept the game close; giving up three runs in 7.1 innings.
Senior pitcher Chuck Schiffhauer got the start on the mound and pitched a solid game with nothing to show for. Schiffhaur went 7.2 innings, allowing three runs on nine hits while striking out four for a valiant no decision effort. Senior Joe Antinone went three innings in relief, taking the loss. The bases were drunk with Crusaders in the top of the 11th and Valparaiso was able to score the go ahead run after hit-by-pitch. In the bottom half of the frame, the Penguins played small ball and nearly pulled out the come from behind win only to fall 90 feet short from tying the contest. Junior outfielder John Koehnlein led off with a single and shortly after stole second. Koehnlein advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by senior second basemen Josh Page. Unfortunately, the Penguins couldn't capitalize and bring Koehnlein across the plate, leaving him stranded at third. The Penguins out hit the Crusaders 11-9 with Koehnlein leading the way with four hits.
On day two of the double-header the Penguins made up for Friday's extra inning heartbreaker by sweeping Saturday's double-header against the Crusaders to win the weekend series 2-1.
The Penguins kicked off the three-game set in low gear, losing the first game on Friday by the final of 3-4 in 11 innings. This was the second time in the week that the Penguins had to go extra innings. YSU played a 14-inning marathon against Duquesne University picking up an 8-7 win Wednesday, but the Penguins were not as lucky going into extra frames against the Crusaders.
The difference in the game was the gutsy effort by the Valparaiso bullpen as Jay Clites, Steve Godawa and Jay Miller stifled the Penguin bats over the final 3.2 innings of play. Despite being slightly out-pitched by his counterpart, Valparaiso starting pitcher Elliot Gibbs kept the game close; giving up three runs in 7.1 innings.
Senior pitcher Chuck Schiffhauer got the start on the mound and pitched a solid game with nothing to show for. Schiffhaur went 7.2 innings, allowing three runs on nine hits while striking out four for a valiant no decision effort. Senior Joe Antinone went three innings in relief, taking the loss. The bases were drunk with Crusaders in the top of the 11th and Valparaiso was able to score the go ahead run after hit-by-pitch. In the bottom half of the frame, the Penguins played small ball and nearly pulled out the come from behind win only to fall 90 feet short from tying the contest. Junior outfielder John Koehnlein led off with a single and shortly after stole second. Koehnlein advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by senior second basemen Josh Page. Unfortunately, the Penguins couldn't capitalize and bring Koehnlein across the plate, leaving him stranded at third. The Penguins out hit the Crusaders 11-9 with Koehnlein leading the way with four hits.
On day two of the double-header the Penguins made up for Friday's extra inning heartbreaker by sweeping Saturday's double-header against the Crusaders to win the weekend series 2-1.
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