Fast Start Gives KSU 6-3 Win at YSU

Tuesday, April 18

Youngstown, OH

5:00 PM

Kent State University

20-12

Youngstown State University

9-24

Kent State

Youngstown State

Photo by: Bob Christy

4/18/2017 8:29:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

NILES, Ohio – Five pitches into Tuesday night's game Kent State (20-12) had a 2-0 lead and that led them to cruise to a 6-3 victory at Youngstown State (9-24).

The game started with singles by Mason Mamarella and Luke Burch. Dylan Rosa then took the first pitch he saw and doubled to left center for the lead. The fast start did not stop there, as Tim DalPorto walked to put two on for another two-run double. Pete Schuler took an 0-2 pitch and placed it down the right field line to make it a 4-0 game.

That lead bolstered starter Joe Vranesic as he took the mound for his first collegiate appearance. Vranesic would go 5.0 innings with one run, three hits, no walks and four strikeouts in an impressive debut.

Fellow freshmen Zach Schultz and John Matthews also performed well. Schultz went 2.2 shutout innings with no hits, no walks and one strikeout. Matthews earned his first save by pitching the 9^th with one walk and one strikeout.

The Penguins broke through with one run in the 3^rd on a single and double before both teams would score two runs in the 7^th. The Flashes scored on a singles by Reilly Hawkins, Nick Kanavas and Mamarella. Youngstown State then tallied two on two singles and a walk to put the score at 6-3.

Both Mamarella and Kanavas went 3-for-4 on the night while birthday boy Burch was 2-for-5. Rosa was also 2-for-5 while he and Schuler led the team with two RBI with the team's two extra-base hits.

Kent State is back in action on Wednesday when it travels to Pittsburgh for a 6 p.m. game.