May 13, 2009 | Box Score

Guins Stay Hot at the Plate, Klein Strong in Relief in 17-10 Win Over Buffalo

    Niles, Ohio -- Youngstown State scored in each of the first seven innings and posted season-high totals in hits and runs to beat Buffalo 17-10 in the Penguins' regular season finale on Wednesday at Eastwood Field.

    Every YSU starter had at least one hit, eight scored and registered an RBI. Jacke Healey hit his team-high eighth homer and drove in four runs, and Jeremy Banks added four RBIs.

    The Penguins and Bulls combined for 24 runs and 26 hits through the first five innings, which took more than two hours to complete. That's when weekend starter Phil Klein came in completely changed the tone of the contest for YSU. In a game where he was just supposed to get some work in during the week-long break leading up to the Horizon League Baseball Championship, Klein cruised through 3.2 innings to pick up his fifth win. He allowed one hit, walked two and struck out four as the final four innings lasted less than 50 minutes.

    Buffalo had just one hit after the fifth to finish with 14, and YSU posted 19 hits, seven of which went for extra bases.

    Each team scored in each of the first five innings, but YSU led 14-10 heading into the sixth thanks to a seven-run fourth. The Penguins had just four hits in the fourth  as Buffalo issued four walks and had an error. After the first two batters of the inning were retired, YSU ended up sending nine more men to the plate. John Koehnlein's double tied the score at 5-5, and Banks walked with the bases loaded to give YSU the lead for good.

    Buffalo scored five runs in the top of the fifth on four hits, the last of which was a grand slam, to get within 11-10. YSU answered three runs on a two-run double by Banks and an RBI single by Anthony Porter in the bottom half, and Healey's two-run double in the sixth put YSU ahead 16-10.

    Porter added a homer in the seventh, and Anthony Munoz pitched a scoreless ninth inning.

    Koehnlein, YSU's lone senior, finished with three hits and three runs scored in his final game at Eastwood Field. Koehnlein has upped his batting average to .385, and he's had at least two hits in seven consecutive games. He is batting .528 over the last 14 games, and the Penguins are hitting .323 as a team over that span.

    David Leon added a game-high and career-high four hits and three runs scored.

    Chaz Mye was charged with the loss for Buffalo after allowing all seven runs in the fourth, although only two were earned.

    The Penguins end the regular season 16-34, and they will have to wait to see who and when they will play in next week's Horizon League Baseball Championship.

    If Cleveland State is swept at Wright State on Friday and Saturday, YSU will finish as the No. 5 seed and play Wednesday at 11 a.m. If the Vikings win at least once, YSU will play Butler on Tuesday at 3 p.m. The tournament will be at The Pipe Yard in Lorain, Ohio.