Game 1 Box Score 
| Game 2 Box Score
Photo Gallery | HC John Pawlowski Postgame Press Conference
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – After a win on Opening Day, WKU Baseball followed it up by splitting the Saturday doubleheader against Youngstown State to claim a 2-1 series win over the Penguins on the first weekend of the 2016 season.
The Hilltoppers dropped a narrow defeat in the first of two games on the day in extra innings, 8-7, but were able to bounce back with a convincing 11-1 triumph in the final game of the series. Junior Ryan Thurston was dominant on the mound, while Thomas Peter paced the team offensively in a game where the Tops racked up 14 hits.
In his first start of the year, Thurston was in complete control on the mound as he threw five shutout innings to secure the win, allowing just one hit and striking out five. The junior produced his best performance since his start at Indiana in 2014, where he also one-hit the Hoosiers. Peter was the star bat for WKU in the contest as he finished with a career-high four hits and matched his career-best for RBI in a game with three. He also chipped in with a run in the contest.
Sophomore Grant Malott also had a standout performance in the victory, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored, which were both career-bests for him. Malott showcased his speed in the third inning as he singled with a bunt, starting what would be a three-run inning for the Hilltoppers. WKU would later score four in the bottom of the eighth to put the game away for good.
Ty Downing was a solid contributor for WKU in the win, mashing two doubles and driving in a run in four at-bats in the game.
In the two games combined, WKU registered 28 hits and scored 18 runs. The Tops out-hit the Penguins in the loss in Game 1 of the doubleheader and clawed back from behind to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth inning, but surrendered a run in the 10th inning to drop its their first game of the year.
Danny Hudzina and Kaleb Duckworth both had strong days at the plate. Hudzina extended his hitting streak to eight games dating back to last season as he went 4-for-10 with four runs scored and added an RBI on the day. Duckworth posted four hits, two runs batted in and scored a run himself in the two games combined.
WKU will return to action on Friday, Feb. 26, when it takes part in the Bulldog Invitational in Athens, Georgia, opening against Cincinnati at noon CT. The Hilltoppers will play 2015 Sun Belt regular-season champion South Alabama on Saturday and host Georgia on Sunday.
