Baseball Takes Series From #24 Mississippi, Winning Finale 5-2

Sunday, February 25

Oxford, MS

12:30 PM

Wright State University

2-1

#24 Ole Miss

6-3

Wright State

Ole Miss

Baseball Takes Series From #24 Mississippi, Winning Finale 5-2

2/25/2007 12:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: WSU Athletic Media Relations

The Wright State baseball team won the series finale over #24 Mississippi 5-3 on Sunday afternoon in Oxford. The Raiders took two of three games from the Rebels and won their first season-opening series since 1995. Kyle Kearcher picked up the win and WSU collected three extra-base hits in the victory.

The Rebels capitalized in on two Raider errors in the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead. The lead-off hitter reached on a fielding error by Raider shortstop Justin Parker, advanced to third on a single and scored on a Zack Cozart sacrifice fly to center field.

The Raiders put runners on the corners in the second inning as Aaron Field sent a one-out single back up the middle and moved to third on a Casey McGrew single through the left side. UM starter Brett Bukvich retired the next two WSU batters, though, and escaped the inning unscathed.

Wright State again threatened in the fourth inning, but Bukvich again escaped a tight situation. Parker laced a one-out single through the left side, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch before Bukvich struck out the next two batters.

The Raiders broke through in the fifth, however, with a two-out rally. Dan Biedenharn were each walked and Oeder moved to third on a stolen base. Jeremy Hamilton then took a two-ball, two-strike offering over the right field fence for his first hit of the season.

Parker drove the first strike of the sixth inning down the left field line for his first home run of the season and pushed the Raider lead to 4-1. Casey McGrew and Gerald Ogrinc then singled, chasing Bokvich after 5.2 innings of work. Cody Satterwhite came on in relief and after waking Oeder, enticed Biedenharn to fly out to right, ending the threat.

Ole Miss answered in its half of the sixth inning when Cozart doubled and later scored on a C.J. Ketchum double to left field, cutting the Raider lead in half. Kearcher got a ground ball out and then struck out the final batter of the inning to preserve the margin.

In his first outing since April 11 of last season, Kearcher threw six innings and allowed two runs, one earned, while striking out four batters. Kearcher picked up his first win of the season, holding UM to only five hits and allowing only four base runners to pass second base.

The Raiders added a run in the ninth as a throwing error by the UM third baseman put Biedenharn on second base and he scored as Hamilton doubled to left field.

Jason Bennion came on to relive Kearcher in the seventh and threw three scoreless innings. Bennion allowed two hits, walked one and struck two batters to pick up his first save of his career.

The offense was led by Hamilton's two-for-five performance, including a homer and a double. The sophomore drove in four RBI and scored a run. McGrew and Parker each collected two hits and Biedenharn scored two runs in the game.

The Green and Gold will have the week off before returning to action on March 2 at 7:30 Dayton time against Tulane. The Raiders and Green Wave will square off in a three-game series at Zephyr Field in New Orleans.