Baseball | Photo by Wright State Intercollegiate Athletics
The Wright State University baseball team traveled to Northern Kentucky University this past weekend for their second conference series of the season. Although the Raiders struggled to get crucial runs up against Oakland, they had no problem finding ways to score.
Game 1
In the opening game of the series, the Raiders were led by two eight-run innings in the second and fourth. The Raiders offense was led by Gehrig Anglin, who went 4-6 at the dish with four runs batted in on the game.
Starting pitcher Jake Shirk posted his first victory of the season after throwing five innings of four-hit, three-run baseball. WSU put up 17 hits which was their second-most of the season.
Aside from a three-run home run by Alec Sayre in the fourth and a two-run blast by Luke Arnold in the seventh, the Raiders scored their remaining 13 runs without needing the long ball.
WSU had four players with stolen bases, moving runners into scoring position and getting them home with timely hitting.
Despite putting 18 runs on the board, WSU still had 11 runners left on base, an area pivotal in deciding games. The opening game of the series was only a preview of what the Norse would be in for the rest of the weekend.
Series-clinching game
The Raiders clinched a series victory on a cloudy, snowy Saturday afternoon after defeating the Norse 14-11. WSU started right out the gate by posting four runs in the top of the first inning, followed by two more in the second.
Up 7-4 in the fifth, WSU tallied five more runs to gain a comfortable 12-4 lead. NKU responded by posting four runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh.
Starting Pitcher Sebastion Gongora recorded his second win of the season despite giving up seven runs—six earned—in five innings pitched.
Both teams each posted a single run in the ninth, resulting in a 14-11 Raiders win and series victory.
Justin Reimer led the Raiders with four runs batted in followed by Sammy Sass and Zane Harris three runs batted in each. The Raiders continued to build off their stealing success from game one by recording five stolen bases on the Norse. Following their 14-11 victory, WSU had its eyes set on a three-game sweep.
Bring out the brooms
The Raiders obtained their first series sweep of the season Sunday, defeating the Norse 17-10.
WSU spread their scoring in this affair, notching two runs in the second, three in the third, one in the fourth, six in the fifth and three more in the ninth.
The Raiders scored 17 runs from 13 hits. WSU showed immense patience at the plate after drawing 13 walks.
Zane Harris was a triple shy of the cycle, going 3-4 with a walk and four runs batted in.
The Raiders scored seven runs from three different homers by Gehrig Anglin, Zane Harris and Jay Luikart.
WSU was flawless on defense with zero errors posted, an area that led to their lack of success versus Oakland a couple of weekends back.
The Raiders survived a six-run sixth inning by the Norse and managed to keep their rally small enough to win by a comfortable margin.
Back on the road
The Raiders head back onto the road for a three-game set versus the Mastodons of Purdue Fort Wayne.
WSU is looking to build off their impressive sweep of the Norse and continue building momentum in conference play as the season progresses.
Purdue Fort Wayne is 4-19 overall with a 2-4 conference record. The first game of the series will be held at noon on Friday at Mastodon Field in Indiana.
