Struthers, Ohio -- Wright State scored five runs over its final two at bats to rally for an 8-5 win in 10 innings over the Youngstown State baseball team on Saturday afternoon at Bob Cene Park.
The Penguins trailed 2-0 before striking for three runs in the bottom of the third to take a 3-2 lead. After the Raiders tied the score 3-3 with a single tally in the top of the fourth, YSU posted a single run of its own in the home half of the inning to regain a 4-3 edge.
The score remained the same until Wright State pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the ninth move ahead 5-4. YSU forced extra innings with a leadoff solo home run from Nathan Beckley in the home half of the ninth, but the Raiders plated two runs in the top of the 10th and held on to earn the series victory.
Wright State defeated YSU for the second straight afternoon to improve to 10-1 in Horizon League play while the Penguins dropped to 3-8 in league action.
Ryan Schummer recorded two of YSU's six hits in the game, and the junior catcher hit his second home run of the season. Beckley hit his third homer of the campaign while Alex Jang drove in a pair of runs from the leadoff spot for the Penguins.
YSU starter Jack Messmore allowed three runs on eight hits with two strikeouts and two walks over 5.2 innings pitched in a no-decision. Tyler Heflin was responsible for two runs on five hits over 2.1 innings of relief while Luke Zmolik was tagged with the loss after surrendering three runs over 1.1 innings.
The Raiders scored first in the top of the second inning when Patrick Fultz hit a solo home run to right field. Wright State pushed its lead to 2-0 with another single run in the top of the third. Keegan Holmstrom hit a leadoff single and came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Gus Gregory.
The Penguins answered with three runs in the bottom half of the third inning to take a 3-2 advantage. Teddy Ruffner and Brevin Smith drew back-to-back walks before an infield bunt single by James Carlson loaded the bases with nobody out. Jang followed with a two-run single before Garrett Cutting's RBI groundout gave YSU the one-run edge.
Wright State manufactured a pair of runs on two hits in the top of the ninth inning to regain a 5-4 lead. Fultz hit a leadoff single and scored when Hunter Warren reached on a fielder's choice while pinch runner Parker Falkenstein scored on a sacrifice fly from Braylen Blomquist.
YSU responded in the bottom half of the ninth as Beckley hit the second pitch of the frame over the wall in right field to even the score at 5-5.
The Raiders took the decisive 8-5 lead with three runs on three hits in the top of the 10th inning. Holmstrom and Andrew Duncan began Wright State's 10th inning with back-to-back base hits before Gregory walked to load the bases. After YSU recorded the first out of the frame on a force play at the plate, Nate Manley delivered a two-run single through the left side to put the visitors back on top. Warren drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to produce the final margin.
Wright State starter Griffen Paige allowed four runs on three hits with nine strikeouts over seven innings. The left-hander retired the first six batters he faced, and he also sat down 11 consecutive hitters between the fourth and seventh innings. Michael Bilo picked up the win after permitting one run and fanning six batters over three innings out of the bullpen.
Duncan went 4-for-5 at the plate to lead five Raiders with multiple hits in the contest.
The Penguins and Raiders will conclude their three-game Horizon League series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch at Bob Cene Park is scheduled for 1 p.m.
