You see it every so often in college sports, a team ranked number one losing. It happens. Rarely does the team pulling off the upset make it happen back-to-back years.
But those teams aren’t Head Coach Rob Cooper’s Raiders.
After defeating the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs in Athens, GA midway through the 2009 season, Wright State went to Charlottesville, VA in 2010 and beat the top-ranked Virginia Cavaliers.
Right hander Alex Kaminsky pitched seven strong innings for the Raiders, allowing only one run. Kaminsky fooled Cavalier hitters all evening striking out seven while walking just one.
“I had very good control of my pitches that day,” Kaminsky said. “That’s what I prided myself on each and every time I stepped out onto the mound.”
Kaminsky faced some early trouble in the game, surrendering a leadoff double and Virginia’s only run in the first inning. But his composure kept the Raiders in the game.
“When I’m on the mound during a game, I never get rattled,” Kaminsky said. “I’ve always been told at a very young age that hitters will get their hits. Just limit their damage and compete your tail off out there.”
Right fielder Tristan Moore had his way against Virginia’s starting pitcher, Danny Hultzen, going 3-4 and scoring one of WSU’s two runs that day.
“I just remember how good his stuff was and how well he located every pitch,” Moore said. “I got into some good hitting counts and made enough contact with some pitches that day to get them through the infield.”
Both Kaminsky and Moore credited their manager Rob Cooper on the memorable Raider victory.
“A win like that for our program means a great deal,” Kaminsky said. “It starts at the top with our head coach Rob Cooper. He got us very focused and ready to play that week and we went in there and took care of business.”
Cooper sensed the Raiders had a great chance to complete the upset once he saw how effective relief pitcher Greg Robinson was as he pitched the eighth and ninth innings for WSU.
“Greg came on for the last six outs of the game and he was dominant,” Cooper said. “Virginia didn’t have a chance.”
For those involved with the WSU baseball program, the Virginia win proved to them that they could compete with any team in the country.
“I think it shows our program can compete against the nation’s elite programs,” Cooper said. “I hope it’s something that brings a lot of pride to the university. It means our guys worked hard and deserved to get that win.”
