March 20, 2009 | Box Score

Swenson Carries Penguins to Win Over Wright State in League Opener

    Dayton, Ohio -- Aaron Swenson gave Youngstown State the strong start on the mound that it needed, and the Penguins never trailed in a 7-4 victory over Wright State on Friday evening in the Horizon League opener for both teams.
    Swenson threw all nine innings, allowing 11 hits and striking out seven without walking a batter. His performance came after YSU fell behind early 7-0 to Pitt and 11-1 at Akron earlier this week.
    "I can't say enough about what Aaron did for us," YSU head coach Rich Pasquale said. "He did it all last season, and he picked up right where he left off. I was really happy with our approach at the plate as well."
    Eric Marzec had a game-high four hits, and Jacke Healey and Casey Holland both homered for YSU. Healey's was a two-run shot in the seventh inning when YSU pulled ahead from a 4-4 tie.
    The Penguins took the lead in the first inning with a run on one hit and a walk. John Koehnlein drew a leadoff walk on Wright State starter Rylan Ostrosky, and he moved to second on C.J. Morris' ground out. Eric Marzec then singled to center to plate Koehnlein.
    YSU got help from an Ostrosky error in the second to go up by two. Anthony Porter reached on a one out single, and David Leon singled with two outs to put runners on first and second. Ostrosky's attempt to pick off Leon at first was wide, and Porter came in to score.
    The Penguins used the same group to score in the fifth as they did in the first. Koehnlein reached on an error to start the inning, and Morris moved him to second on a sacrifice bunt. Marzec then brought in Koehnlein again with a single to center to put YSU ahead 3-0.
    Wright State had four hits in the fifth and scored three runs with two outs to tie the score. Aaron Fields doubled in Jeff Mercer, and Ryan Ashe hit a two-run single.
    Holland reclaimed the lead for the Penguins on the first pitch of the sixth inning with a solo homer to right center. Mercer countered for Wright State in the bottom of the inning with a double that scored Quentin Cate.
    With Ostrosky out to start the seventh, the Penguins tagged Michael Meintel for three runs on three hits and a walk. Morris drew a one-out walk, and Marzec singled to right to put runners at the corners. After Marzec was caught stealing, Joe Iacobucci came up with a two-out, RBI single to right for the go-ahead score. Healey then ripped an 0-1 pitch over the wall in left to put the Penguins up 7-4.
    Swenson worked around two hits in both the seventh and eighth innings, and he retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his first win of the season.
    Meintel was charged with the loss, allowing three runs in 0.2 innings.
    The Penguins and Raiders will play a doubleheader on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.