Preview: Youngstown State Penguins at Pittsburgh Panthers

PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — The Pittsburgh Panthers, riding high in the ACC, will look to handle business against a struggling in-state foe when they host the Youngstown State Penguins in a non-conference baseball game Wednesday at Charles L. Cost Field.

The Panthers (21-9) enter as heavy favorites, having won seven of their last 10 games, including a series victory over then-Louisville and a 4-3 win over Wake Forest last Sunday. They will send right-hander Drew Lafferty to the mound. Lafferty (3-1, 4.91 ERA) earned the win against the Demon Deacons, allowing two earned runs over 6 2/3 innings. His season has been a mix of brilliance and struggle, including a five-inning, four-run outing in a win at Louisville and a tough start in a loss to Georgia Tech.

They face a Penguins squad (5-24) mired in a difficult season, having lost 10 of their last 11 games. Youngstown State’s last outing was a 5-1 loss at Milwaukee on Saturday. The Penguins will lean on right-hander Brandon Mikos, who started that game. Mikos (0-4, 7.36 ERA) has shown swing-and-miss ability with 18 strikeouts in his last 19 2/3 innings, but command issues have led to high run totals, as he has allowed 17 earned runs over that five-start span.

The teams met just two weeks ago in Pittsburgh, with the Panthers escaping with an 8-7 victory on March 25. The Penguins have been competitive in several recent games, with five of their last eight losses coming by two runs or fewer, including two extra-inning defeats at Northern Kentucky.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, Pittsburgh is projected to win handily, with a predicted final score of 7-2.

For Pittsburgh, the game is a final tune-up before a pivotal ACC home series against California this weekend. Youngstown State opens Horizon League play at home against Wright State on Friday.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. EDT Wednesday.