Youngstown State could not hold a 5-0 lead after six innings as UIC rallied to post a 9-7 Horizon League win at Eastwood Field on Saturday afternoon.  The bullpen for the Penguins surrendered three home runs over the last three innings, which were the difference in the game.

Sean McDermott, a coach for UIC got tossed in the fifth for calling out the umpires one too many times.  McDermott (below) shouted a host of expletives toward home plate umpire, Paul Lancaster, about the inconsistent strike zone and displeasure toward a called third strike to end an inning for the Flames.

YSU starter, Phil Klein, flirted with danger in his six plus innings loading the bases twice before eventually escaping unharmed.  Klein surrendered five hits over six innings before allowing the leadoff man to reach base in the seventh inning.  Bill Turosky was called in from the bullpen to relieve Klein.  Turosky struck out one batter but allowed the bases to get full yet again. 

Kevin McCulloh was next to pitch for the Penguins.  McCulloh struck out the first batter he faced.  With the bases loaded and two outs, UIC used their biggest weapon, Chris Rutta, to make a pinch-hitting appearance.  Rutta, on an 0-2 pitch, launched a bomb deep into left field which tied the game at 5-5.

Still tied at five runs apiece in the eighth, UIC had Steve McGuigan standing on second base with one out.  On a ball hit to the warning track in right, McGuigan got greedy and tried to score from second but was thrown out at the plate.

Jeremy Banks, who was 3-4 with three RBI’s for Youngstown State, started the bottom of the eighth with a single.  Joe Iacobucci was next, and he also singled moving Banks to third with nobody out.  Anthony Porter then slapped an outside pitch to left which appeared to be trapped.  The umpires ruled it a catch and it ended up being a double play.  Despite the shoddy umpiring, Jacke Healey scored from third to give the Penguins a 6-5 lead.

Alex Oles came into the game to pitch the ninth for YSU.  After getting the leadoff man to ground out, everything fell apart.  Penguins RF Tom Clayton slipped in pursuit of a high fly ball which ended up being a gift triple for UIC’s John Rosinski.  The next batter, Joe Betcher, homered to left-ceneter staking UIC to a 7-6 lead.

Trent Wood was called out of the Penguin bullpen to try and douse the flames and give YSU a realistic chance in the bottom of the ninth inning.  UIC catcher, Ryan Meehan, took Wood’s very first pitch out of the park.  When the top of the ninth ended, YSU trailed 9-6.

Freshman Zac McFarland hit his first career home run for Youngstown State to pull the Penguins to 9-7, but that is where the scoring ended.  YSU dropped to 11-12 (3-2, HL) and UIC improved to 7-15 (3-2, HL).  The teams won a game apiece in the three-game set. 

For Klein (above), who was effective for 2/3 of the game, the result had to be a disappointing no-decision.