2008 Woodie Awards
BASEBALL Penguins avoid series sweep
Eric Barone, Reporter
Issue date: 4/29/08 Section: Sports
Youngstown State University's baseball team opened up a three game series this weekend against Horizon League rival Cleveland State at The Pipe Yard in Cleveland with hopes of putting some distance between them and the Vikings in the Horizon League standings.
Heading into the series, the Penguins held a slim two-game advantage over Cleveland State in the division ranks.
In the first of the three games the Penguins could not quiet the Vikings bats as the Penguins were outhit by the Vikings 16-15. Despite putting up big numbers offensively, the defense for the Penguins was porous as the team committed five costly errors that allowed the Vikings to score 10 unearned runs.
Senior starting pitcher Chuck Schiffhauer, who has been strong on the mound for the Penguins this season, struggled with the absence of solid defensive play behind him to take the loss on the mound for the Penguins. Schiffhauer was tagged early and often by the Cleveland State lineup and the senior pitcher lasted just three innings while surrendering eight runs on eight hits.
For the Vikings, starting pitcher Josh Hungerman was awarded the win but was roughed up in his outing against the Penguins. Hungerman allowed seven runs on 13 hits, but pitched effectively enough to keep his team in the lead when the ball was handed over to the Cleveland State bullpen midway through the fifth inning.
The Penguins could not find any offense after Hungerman exited and the Cleveland State bullpen took over. Three Viking relievers combined to throw 3.2 scoreless innings and surrendered just two hits the rest of the way. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for the Penguins bullpen as the Vikings belted two home runs in the fourth and blew the game open after scoring seven to take an insurmountable 13-4 lead. The Penguins didn't go quietly as the team was able to muster a run in the fifth and three more in the sixth, but the Vikings scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth to seal the deal and take the win over the Penguins.Looking for better results Saturday, the Penguins and Vikings played a doubleheader to wrap up the three game series. The offensive success continued for the Penguins, but the YSU pitching staff had a hard time finding the answer the Cleveland State batting order that slugged them around all weekend.
Heading into the series, the Penguins held a slim two-game advantage over Cleveland State in the division ranks.
In the first of the three games the Penguins could not quiet the Vikings bats as the Penguins were outhit by the Vikings 16-15. Despite putting up big numbers offensively, the defense for the Penguins was porous as the team committed five costly errors that allowed the Vikings to score 10 unearned runs.
Senior starting pitcher Chuck Schiffhauer, who has been strong on the mound for the Penguins this season, struggled with the absence of solid defensive play behind him to take the loss on the mound for the Penguins. Schiffhauer was tagged early and often by the Cleveland State lineup and the senior pitcher lasted just three innings while surrendering eight runs on eight hits.
For the Vikings, starting pitcher Josh Hungerman was awarded the win but was roughed up in his outing against the Penguins. Hungerman allowed seven runs on 13 hits, but pitched effectively enough to keep his team in the lead when the ball was handed over to the Cleveland State bullpen midway through the fifth inning.
The Penguins could not find any offense after Hungerman exited and the Cleveland State bullpen took over. Three Viking relievers combined to throw 3.2 scoreless innings and surrendered just two hits the rest of the way. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for the Penguins bullpen as the Vikings belted two home runs in the fourth and blew the game open after scoring seven to take an insurmountable 13-4 lead. The Penguins didn't go quietly as the team was able to muster a run in the fifth and three more in the sixth, but the Vikings scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth to seal the deal and take the win over the Penguins.Looking for better results Saturday, the Penguins and Vikings played a doubleheader to wrap up the three game series. The offensive success continued for the Penguins, but the YSU pitching staff had a hard time finding the answer the Cleveland State batting order that slugged them around all weekend.
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