MILWAUKEE (Interstat) — Riley Peterson dominated over seven strong innings, and the Milwaukee Panthers capitalized on a big first inning to defeat the Youngstown State Penguins 5-1 in a Horizon League baseball game Saturday evening at Henry Aaron Field.

The Panthers, who shut out the Penguins on Friday, improved to 6-21 overall. Youngstown State dropped to 3-24.

Peterson was the story, striking out nine while allowing just two hits and one earned run. He walked one and hit a batter. The performance continued a strong stretch for the right-hander, who threw five hitless innings against Butler on March 28. He set the tone early, retiring the first six Penguins he faced and never allowing a runner past first base until his final inning.

Milwaukee’s offense provided all the support Peterson would need in a decisive bottom of the first. After Youngstown State starter Brandon Mikos retired the first batter, the next four Panthers reached base. Carson Ross singled, Jack Schmidt walked and Dylan O’Connell reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases.

Dominic Kibler then drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly to left. Bradyn Horn followed with an RBI double to center, scoring O’Connell. Charlie Marion then doubled down the left-field line to plate Horn, staking Milwaukee to a 3-0 lead before many fans had settled into their seats.

The Panthers added an unearned run in the second. Tyler Holmes singled, advanced to second on a groundout, and scored when Schmidt’s single to shortstop was mishandled, making it 4-0.

Mikos settled in after the rocky start, not allowing another hit through his 5 2/3 innings of work. He finished with four runs allowed, three earned, on two hits with three strikeouts and three walks. Youngstown State’s bullpen was sharp, as Jake Ferretti, Luke Zmolik and another reliever combined for 2 1/3 hitless innings of relief.

The Penguins broke through against Peterson in the seventh, scoring their lone run without a hit. Nate Beckley reached on a fielder’s choice, advanced to second on a hit-by-pitch and to third on a walk before scoring on a bases-loaded walk to Ryan Schummer. Peterson escaped further damage by striking out Brodie Shannon to end the threat with the bases loaded.

Milwaukee got that run back in the bottom of the sixth. Marion led off with a double and later scored on a two-out single by Joey Spence, extending the lead to 5-1.

Aiden Fishnick closed the game for Milwaukee, working two perfect innings of relief with one strikeout to seal the victory.

Youngstown State managed just two singles in the game, one by Braeden Kuriger in the fifth and one by Liam Ross in the seventh. The Penguins have lost five straight games.

Marion led Milwaukee’s seven-hit attack, going 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Horn and Spence each drove in a run.

The most important part of the game was Milwaukee’s immediate offensive response in the first inning. After setting Youngstown State down in order in the top half, the Panthers sent eight men to the plate in the bottom half, scoring three runs on three extra-base hits. This early outburst provided Peterson with a comfortable margin and set the tone for the remainder of the contest, allowing him to attack the strike zone aggressively against a struggling Penguins lineup.

Youngstown State will try to avoid the series sweep on Sunday. The Penguins host Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Milwaukee goes for the sweep Sunday before hosting Iowa on Tuesday.