Raider Gang | Photo by Monica Brutto | The Wright State Guardian
The Wright State University men's baseball team entered the weekend looking to continue its dominant conference slate; however, results proved to be just the opposite.
Coming into the weekend
After winning three of four games against Northern Kentucky University and the University of Cincinnati, WSU traveled to Milwaukee for a three-game set against the Panthers. The Raiders would go on to lose its first conference series of the season after getting swept.
The Panthers entered the weekend series with a record of 10-14 with the Raiders sitting at 16-12.
Series opener
Going scoreless in the bottom of the second inning, the Panthers had the leadoff runner reach base following an error by freshman Patrick Fultz. Milwaukee would capitalize on an RBI single to center.
In the top of the third inning, sophomore Andrew Patrick would even the score after a solo blast to center field.
Patrick would go on to finish the game 3-5 at the plate with one RBI.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Fultz suffered a second error, allowing Milwaukee to reach base to open the inning. Milwaukee would score in the inning after a wild pitch from junior Jake Shirk to take a 2-1 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Panthers would add insurance runs after a two-run home run to go up 4-1.
The Raiders would bring one back in the seventh inning after sophomore Luke Arnold found an RBI the hard way, getting hit by a pitch with the bases full.
The Panthers would respond in the bottom of the seventh with two more runs following a double that scored two more unearned runs.
The Raiders would add one more run after junior Julian Greenwell came across an RBI double.
The Raiders would fall 6-3 after giving up four unearned runs. Shirk would be credited for the loss, moving to a personal record of 2-4 on the season.
Game two
The Raiders would take an early lead on Friday after junior Sammy Sass claimed a first inning RBI.
Going into the fifth inning tied, Patrick would reclaim the lead for WSU after a two-run home run, the center fielder’s second long ball in the series.
The Panthers would tie the game after a single run scored in both the fifth and seventh innings.
Tied in the tenth inning, Greenwell would record an RBI single and later score on a wild pitch to put the Raiders up 5-3.
In the bottom of the tenth inning, Milwaukee would deliver the final blow after two RBI singles that scored three runs and secured a 6-5 series-clinching victory.
Junior Jay Luikart was credited with the loss out of the bullpen.
Series finale
In the final game of the series, WSU would claim another first-inning lead after Greenwell hit a solo dinger to right-center field.
Milwaukee would respond with two runs in the first inning.
In the top of the third inning, Greenwell would hit a game-tying RBI single.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Milwaukee regained the lead 3-2 after an RBI single.
The Panthers would go on to score two more in the sixth inning, three in the seventh and one more in the eighth to claim a 9-2 victory.
Junior Luke Stofel was credited with the loss on the mound and moves on to 1-3 on the season.
Following the weekend
After the series sweep, WSU now sits at 16-15 overall, going 7-5 in Horizon League play, which is good for second behind NKU.
The Raiders will host the Penguins of Youngstown State on Friday for a weekend series.
WSU will look to secure the non-conference wins before climbing up the HL ranks this coming weekend.
