Wright State scored seven runs in the first inning on its way to an 11-6 victory over the Youngstown State baseball team in the series opener on Friday at Nischwitz Stadium in Dayton, Ohio. Due to rain in the forecast for Sunday, the Penguins and Raiders will now finish their three-game Horizon League series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon.
Wright State scored eight runs over the first two innings before YSU scored single runs in the third and fifth frames. The Raiders scored once in the sixth to go up 9-2 before the Penguins got a pair of runs in the top of the eighth to pull within 9-4. Wright State got both runs back in the home half of the eighth to build an 11-4 lead before YSU scored twice in the ninth to produce the final margin.
Youngstown State falls to 7-26 overall and 3-9 in Horizon League play while Wright State improves to 18-16 overall and 8-5 in league action.
Braeden O'Shaughnessy went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. RJ Sherwood went 2-for-4 with two doubles and drove in a run while Trey Law also had a pair of hits at the top of YSU's lineup.
YSU starter Braden Gebhardt suffered the loss after allowing seven runs on six hits in one inning of work. Nick Perez came on to allow four runs on six hits over a career-high seven innings out of the bullpen. The junior right-hander retired nine straight batters between the third and sixth innings while retiring the side in order in the fourth and fifth.
The Raiders jumped in front quickly with seven runs on six hits in the bottom of the first inning. After the leadoff batter Julian Greenwell was hit by a pitch, Andrew Patrick followed with a two-run home run to left field. Later in the frame, Luke Arnold delivered a two-run double, Dane Thomas drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Avery Fisher hit a two-out RBI single. Greenwell drove home Fisher with an RBI double in his second at bat of the inning to give Wright State a 7-0 lead.
The Raiders pushed their lead to 8-0 with a single run in the home half of the second inning. Sammy Sass hit a leadoff triple to right center and scored on a sacrifice fly from Jay Luikart.
The Penguins got on the board with one run on two hits in the top of the third. Sherwood hit a leadoff double and scored on a two-out RBI single by Braeden O'Shaughnessy. YSU plated another single run in the top of the fifth when Braeden O'Shaughnessy hit his fifth home run of the season.
Wright State increased its advantage to 9-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning when Greenwell hit a one-out triple and scored on a sacrifice fly from Patrick.
Youngstown State scored two runs on two hits in the top of the eighth inning to pull within 9-4. Padraig O'Shaughnessy hit a one-out double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI groundout by Matt Thompson. Ian Francis drew a two-out walk and raced home on an RBI double to right center by Sherwood.
The Raiders responded by scoring twice in the home half of the eighth to take an 11-4 edge. Fisher was hit by a pitch before Patrick hit his second home run of the game to left center.
The Penguins plated a pair of runs in the top of the ninth to account for the final score. Braeden O'Shaughnessy drew a one-out walk, advanced to third on a double by Turner Grau and scored on a passed ball. Grau would score on a sacrifice fly from Padraig O'Shaughnessy two batters later for the game's final run.
Wright State starter Sebastian Gongora earned the victory after surrendering four runs on seven hits with nine strikeouts over 7.2 innings.
Sass went 3-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored for the Raiders while Patrick was 2-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs.
Due to rain in the forecast for Sunday, the Penguins and Raiders will now finish their three-game Horizon League series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon.
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