Staff photo / Dan Hiner Youngstown State starting pitcher Jake Gehring delivers during the second inning of a game against Northern Kentucky on Friday at Eastwood Field in Niles.

NILES — There were just too many mistakes for the Youngstown State baseball team to overcome on Friday night.

The Penguins gave up a late lead, falling to Northern Kentucky 3-2 in the first game of a three-game series at Eastwood Field in Niles.

“One-run losses, that’s on the coach,” YSU head coach Trevor Charpie said. “This one’s on me.”

Both teams got runners on base throughout the first three innings, but neither squad pushed the opening run across.

The Norse (17-15, 7-6 Horizon League) finally broke through against Jake Gehring in the top of the fourth. Tyler Shaneyfelt reached on a two-out infield single that died between the mound and second base. He stole second and was driven in on a single to left field by Logan Devenport.

The lead didn’t last long as Garrett Cutting pulled a pitch into the Norse bullpen in left field for a two-run home run in the bottom half of the frame. It was Cutting’s sixth homer of the season.

Gehring was pulled after five innings, and Howland product Braden Gebhardt entered in relief to start the sixth. Gehring allowed one run on five hits and three walks, striking out seven.

Gebhardt allowed back-to-back soft singles to left to start the sixth. The Norse busted the runners over on a sacrifice, but Shaneyfelt grounded out to first and Gebhardt punched out Devenport to get out of the jam.

Gebhardt got into another jam in the seventh. Two runners got on and advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. Nolan Sparks struck out swinging and Jake Paulick was rung up looking to keep YSU in front.

But the Norse battled back after a couple YSU mistakes.

NKU tied the game at 2 in the top of the eighth inning. Jake Altman reached on a one-out double down the left-field line. He scored on a Shaneyfelt single up the middle that eluded the gloves of Gebhart and a diving Cutting.

The Norse took a 3-2 lead in the next at-bat after Shaneyfelt advanced to second on a groundout to first, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball.

The Penguins (7-25, 4-9 HL) had runners on second and third with two down in the eighth. But Nathan Beckley’s squeeze attempt rolled just foul with the infield shifted to the right. Beckley struck out, stranding the runners.

Cutting got the bottom of the ninth started with a single that tailed over the second baseman. Jay Wrona followed with a walk.

Brayden Kuriger entered as a pinch hitter, but he struck out for the first out. But Eli Brown walked to load the bases for Kyle Fossum, and Teddy Ruffner replaced Wrona as a pinch runner as the potential winning run.

Fossum struck out for the second out and Tommy Rover grounded put to second to end the game.

“I wouldn’t change it,” Charpie said. “Obviously, Fossum’s an incredible player, he’s having an incredible season, and in that situation, we wouldn’t want to draw anything else up. That’s the situation you want. And if it happens tomorrow, he’s the same guy I’d pick to be up.”

Gebhardt took the loss after throwing four innings of relief. He allowed the one earned run on six hits and a walk with five strikeouts.

Cutting finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, and Beckley was 2-for-4 with a run scored.

YSU left nine runners on base and the passed ball makes Friday’s loss hard to swallow, but the Penguins will look to snap a three-game skid today. The second game of the series is set for 3 p.m.

“We leave runners on base, and a miscue leads to the second run,” Charpie said. “This one’s tough to deal with, but I know we’ll be stronger for it. We’re just learning how to win.”