Baseball’s Second School Day Game Set for Today

by YSU

Tuesday, May 14, 2013 8:30 am

The Youngstown State baseball team will participate in its second school day game in as many weeks as it plays host to Canisius on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Eastwood Field. It will be YSU's final regular season home game.

As many 2,400 area students and members of senior citizen groups are expected to be in attendance as the Penguins battle the Golden Griffins. YSU hosted Wright State on May 3 in another day game that was attended by 1,300 fans. Akron Children's Hospital Mahoning Valley is the presenting sponsor for both games.

The Penguins will be looking to snap into postseason form as they begin their final week of the regular season. YSU is 1-6 in May and has dropped nine of 10 contests dating back to April 23 at Kent State. In addition to Tuesday's contest, Youngstown State will play a three-game series at Valparaiso that starts Thursday. Those will be the final games leading up to next week's Horizon League Baseball Tournament, which will take place at Eastwood Field.

Senior right-hander Robert Switka will take the mound for Youngstown State on Tuesday against the Golden Griffins, making his first start in more than two months. Switka was out for a month after his last start at Pittsburgh on March 10, and he has made six relief appearances since April 17. He pitched a scoreless frame in YSU's last day game against Wright State. Switka also battled through injury last season and did not pitch after the first 10 games. His last start at Eastwood Field was on May 6, 2011.

Canisius is 37-13 and has won five of its last six contests. The Golden Griffins are batting .310 as a team and have registered 90 doubles, 22 triples and 22 home runs in 50 games. They have also swiped 93 bases in 116 attempts. Rohn Pierce, a sophomore right-hander, is the probable starter. He is 2-1 with a 5.09 ERA in 46 innings. Tuesday would be his ninth start of the season.

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