Junior Ashley Sharp threw complete games in back-to-back days after throwing a two-hit shutout on Friday, she continued to find success earning her seventh win of the season during a 5-3 victory over Green Bay at the WSU Softball field on Saturday, March 26.
Green Bay (9-22; Horizon 0-3) never led in the three-game series as the Raiders won 7-0, 14-6 and 5-3 in their first conference series of the season.
“It means a lot to come out and win the first three conference games,” junior Becka Peterson said.
“I think in general our conference games are what we prepare for,” Raiders head coach Lynn Curylo said. “This is the part of the season that really matters. This is what gets us to the tournament.”
Peterson hit two homeruns and drove in seven RBI’s in game two of the series while the team collected 19 hits.
“I think we did a really good job moving runners and stuff like that,” Peterson said. “It definitely takes all nine of us.”
The Raiders got straight to business in game three as sophomore Honnah Sursor doubled down the left field line to lead off the game and later scored on a two-out single by senior Hanna Floyd.
Junior Haley Frey tied the game with a soft-hit, one-out single with the bases loaded in the top of the second inning. On a 3-2 count, junior Abby Brinkmeier grounded into a double-play which got the Raiders out of the bases loaded jam.
“Our pitching staff has been doing a really good job keeping the ball down and getting us grounders,” Peterson said. “Our defense has done a good job backing them up and making plays for them. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Junior Libby Pfeffer hit a single with two outs in the bottom of the third inning to regain the lead for Wright State. After Pfeffer stole second base, Floyd and Pfeffer scored on a double down the left field line by sophomore Ashton Salyers. The Raiders led 4-1 after three innings.
Freshman Macy Cook led off the sixth inning with a five-pitch walk and then stole second on the next pitch. After advancing to third on a ground out, Cook scored on a wild pitch to gain a four run advantage.
The Phoenix rallied in the seventh and final inning by scoring two runs, but with runners on the corners and two outs, Sharp struck out junior Katelyn Huemmer to seal the deal.
With a perfect 3-0 conference record, the Raiders will look to extend their six-game winning streak at Miami (OH) (16-11) on Tuesday, March 29 for a double-header beginning at 5 p.m.
