Struthers, Ohio -- The Youngstown State baseball team dropped a 20-8 decision to Wright State in the Horizon League series finale on Sunday afternoon at Bob Cene Park.
The Raiders, who improved to 11-1 in Horizon League play on Sunday, held leads of 2-0 and 5-2 before YSU's three-run third inning tied the score at five runs apiece. Wright State scored eight runs over the next four frames to build an 13-5 advantage. The Penguins scored twice in the home half of the eighth to get within 13-7, but the Raiders responded with a seven-run top of the ninth to pull away and complete the three-game series sweep.
Nathan Beckley and Misael Uriepero each had three hits for the Penguins offensively while Ryan Schummer went 2-for-4 with a double and a two-run home run. Teddy Ruffner added a pair of hits while Brady Shannon belted a two-run blast for his team-leading 10th homer of the season.
YSU starter Mikey Rodriques allowed three runs on three hits over 1.1 innings before handing the ball to Brandon Mikos, who suffered the loss after surrendering five runs on eight hits in 2.1 innings of relief. Sloan Ulrich was responsible for five runs over 2.2 innings out of the bullpen while Aidan English was tagged with six runs in two innings on the mound.
The Raiders took an early lead with two runs in the top of the first inning. Hunter Warren hit a leadoff double and scored on Keegan Holmstrom's RBI single while JP Peltier walked and scored on a failed pickoff attempt.
The Penguins evened the score 2-2 in the bottom half of the first inning when Schummer hit a two-out, two-run blast to right field.
Wright State regained a 3-2 lead on a two-out RBI single from Warren in the top of the second inning. The Raiders extended their advantage to 5-2 when Peltier hit a two-run home run to right field in the top of the third.
Youngstown State pulled even once again with three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Beckley hit a one-out double and Shannon followed with his 10th home run of the season. Schummer proceeded to double and scored from second on Uriepero's two-out RBI single to tie the game 5-5.
Peltier's second two-run home run of the contest in the top of the fourth put Wright State back on top and Andrew Duncan's two-out RBI triple later in the frame gave the visitors an 8-5 edge.
The Raiders pushed their lead to 11-5 after Warren's two-run homer in the top of the fifth and an RBI groundout from Holmstrom in the sixth. Wright State added two runs in the top of the seventh to increase its lead to 13-5. Fultz was hit by a pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly from Warren. Turner, who also hit by a pitch, came around to score on a two-out RBI single by Braylen Blomquist.
Garrett Cutting was hit by a pitch to leadoff the bottom of the eighth inning, and he raced home on Brevin Smith's RBI double to right field. Uriepero walked and scored from third on a wild pitch to trim Wright State's lead to 13-7.
The Raiders pulled away by scoring seven runs on five hits in the top of the ninth inning.
Nic Goodwin drew a leadoff walk for YSU in the bottom of the ninth, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on Ruffner's RBI single to produce the final margin.
Warren finished 5-for-5 at the plate with two doubles, a two-run home run, six RBIs and four runs scored to pace six Raiders with multiple hits in the game. Holmstrom went 5-for-6 with three RBIs and two runs scored while Peltier hit a pair of two-run homers, walked three times and scored five runs.
WSU starter Chet Lax earned his sixth win of the season after allowing five runs on nine hits and fanning four batters over five innings pitched. Brody Papay was responsible for two runs over two innings of relief as the first of five relievers to appear for the Raiders. Cooper Ashby, Michael Zielinski, Nate Shaw and Evan Boeckmann combined to limit the Penguins to one run on two hits over the final two frames.
Youngstown State will return to action on Tuesday with a non-league contest at Akron. First pitch at Skeeles Field is scheduled for 2 p.m.
