PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — In a wild, back-and-forth affair Wednesday evening, the Pittsburgh Panthers scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to stun the Youngstown State Penguins 8-7.

The walk-off victory, sealed on a throwing error by Youngstown State third baseman Nathan Beckley, extended Pittsburgh’s strong start to 17-6 while the Penguins fell to 3-19, their seventh consecutive defeat.

The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the final frame. Trailing 7-6 after Youngstown State’s Alex Jang hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth, the Panthers mounted their comeback against Penguins reliever Tyler Heflin. Lorenzo Carrier was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and Kai Wagner followed with a single. With one out, Joey Baran laid down a bunt single toward third base. Beckley fielded the ball but his throw to first sailed wide, allowing both Carrier and Wagner to score and end the game.

The chaotic finish capped a contest that saw Youngstown State build an early lead only for Pittsburgh to chip away relentlessly. The Penguins struck immediately, as Beckley and Brayden Kuriger hit back-to-back solo home runs in the first inning off Panthers starter Freddy Beruvides Jr. for a quick 2-0 advantage.

Pittsburgh got one back in the bottom half on an RBI single from Carrier that scored Caden Dulin, who had doubled. Dulin and Carrier then connected for back-to-back homers in the third inning, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

Youngstown State added two unearned runs in the fifth. Beckley drove in a run with an infield single, and another scored on a throwing error by Pittsburgh third baseman Wagner, pushing the Penguins’ lead to 5-2.

The Panthers’ power surge continued in the sixth. Sebastian Pisacreta and Carter Dierdorf hit consecutive solo home runs, pulling Pittsburgh within a run at 5-4.

Youngstown State first baseman Ryan Schummer homered in the eighth to make it 6-4, but Pittsburgh answered with two in the bottom half. With the bases loaded, Julian Irizarry hit a fielder’s choice grounder to shortstop, scoring pinch-runner Zach Walsh. The Panthers loaded the bases again but could not take the lead, leaving the score at 6-5.

Jang’s two-run blast in the ninth appeared to provide crucial insurance for the Penguins, setting the stage for the Panthers’ final, error-aided rally.

Beckley led Youngstown State’s 11-hit attack, going 3 for 5 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Jang finished 2 for 5 with his two-run homer, and Misael Uriepero added three hits.

For Pittsburgh, which also tallied 11 hits, Carrier went 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs. Dierdorf was 2 for 3 with a homer, Dulin was 2 for 5 with a homer, and Pisacreta finished 2 for 3 with a home run.

Five Pittsburgh pitchers combined for the win, with Mikey Gray earning the victory after recording the final out of the ninth. Heflin took the loss for Youngstown State, which used six pitchers.

The Panthers open Atlantic Coast Conference play on the road Friday at Louisville. The Penguins begin Horizon League action Friday at Northern Kentucky. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in a rematch on April 7 in Youngstown.