Wake Forest Scores Twice in the Ninth to Beat YSU, 6-5

by YSU

Monday, Feb 25, 2013 1:48 pm

Winston-Salem, N.C. -- Wake Forest scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat the Youngstown State baseball team 6-5 in the Penguins' last of four games this weekend.

YSU starter Robert Switka held the Demon Deacons scoreless on one hit through five innings, and he left with a 3-0 lead. Wake Forest scored four runs in the sixth, then rallied again in the ninth after YSU took a 5-4 lead.

Kris Moules and Drew Dosch both had two hits apiece for Youngstown State, and Moules and Mike Accardi both scored twice. Wake Forest committed six errors in the contest that led to all five of YSU's runs.

In the ninth, YSU closer Nic Manuppelli struck out Jack Carey, who hit a three-run homer earlier in the game, to start the inning. The junior right-hander, though, did not record another out as Wake Forest had its bottom third of the order up. Joey Rodriguez hit a pinch-hit double to start the rally, and Mark Rhine was hit by a pitch. Brett Armour singled to left to bring in Rodriguez to tie the score, and leadoff batter Evan Stephens loaded the bases with a single to left. Conor Keniry then drew a four-pitch walk to bring in Rhine with the winning run.

Manuppelli was charged with his first loss of the season, and Nate Jones improved to 1-0 for Wake Forest. Jones did not allow an earned run and surrendered two hits in 2.2 innings of relief.

YSU built a 3-0 lead with a run in the first, second and fifth innings. Marcus Heath singled in Moules in the first, and Jack Graham singled in Devin Higgins in the second to make the score 2-0. Moules then brought in Accardi on a sacrifice fly in the fifth to put the Penguins up by three.

Carey's pinch-hit, three-run home run off of Jared Wight with two outs in the sixth capped a four-run inning that put the Demon Deacons up 4-3. The Penguins, though, scored twice in the seventh on a throwing error on a double play ball. YSU's Josh North escaped a jam in the bottom of the seventh when the Penguins were able to complete a 6-4-3 double play.

The Penguins stranded two runners in the top of the ninth.

Youngstown State will play four games at Charlotte next weekend, starting Friday at 4 p.m.

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