Baseball Splits Twinbill with UIC

Saturday, April 14

Chicago, IL

2:05 PM

Wright State University

15-13, 9-6

UIC (Game 1)

16-12, 8-2

Wright State

UIC

4/14/2007 12:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: WSU Athletic Media Relations

The Wright State baseball team dropped the first game of their Saturday double-header at UIC, 2-1, but rebounded to end the Flames' 10-game winning streak with a 5-4 victory in the nightcap.

The Flames jumped out to an early lead in game one, plating two runs off of WSU starter Kyle Kearcher in the first inning. Micky Pingree recorded an RBI ground out and Ben Trotter drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to give UIC a 2-0 lead.

The Raiders finally cracked the scoring column in the sixth inning, ending the day for UIC starter Zach Peterson. Dan Biedenharn. After moving to third on a wild pitch, Oeder scored on a Jeremy Hamilton sacrifice fly to left field.

Kearcher held the Flames offense at bay for the final seven innings of game one. The senior walked on and struck out one in the outing, allowing only six hits in the game. Kearcher falls to 5-3 on the season and holds an ERA of 2.45.

The Raiders couldn't muster any offense in the ninth inning and UIC's David Cales recorded his seventh save of the season.

In game one, Oeder and Casey McGrew and Aaron Fields each recorded hits in the first game against the Flames.

In game two, UIC again jumped out to an early lead in the first inning. The Flames used a pair of hit batters and a sacrifice fly from Larry Gempp to take a 1-0 lead.

The Raiders evened the game in the second inning when Justin Parker led the inning off with a double to left center field. Brain Shoup then singled to right field, allowing Parker to score on a fielding error by the right fielder, tying the game at one.

The Flames retook the lead with a single run in the third inning, thanks again to a Gempp RBI. A one-out walk and a pair of singles, the last a base hit into right field, allowed UIC to retake the lead at 2-1.

Hamilton got things started in the fourth inning for the Green and Gold. The sophomore led the inning off with a double to left-center field. Parker dropped down a sacrifice bunt and McGrew plated the run with a ground out to second base.

The Raiders took their first lead of the afternoon in the seventh inning off of UIC relief pitcher Joe Skinner. Three of the first four Raiders reached base via singles, the final single a bunt from John Kopilchack which scored the run.

Wright State starter Garret Holleran worked into some trouble in the bottom of the seventh inning. A sacrifice bunt separated a pair of base hits, putting runners on the corners with one out. Nate Stevens came on in relief and allowed the tying run to score on a suicide squeeze. Jason Bennion come on to replace Stevens and recorded the final out of the inning.

Holleran allowed three runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings of work. He struck out three batters and walked one in the no decision.

The Raiders then retook the lead in the eighth, when Hamilton singled and Parker reached on a fielding error by the first baseman. The two were advanced to second by a Nick Allsop sacrifice bunt. Shoup then plated both runners with a single through the right side of the drawn in infield to give WSU a 5-3 lead.

The Flames again mounted their comeback in the ninth inning, loading the bases on a walk a double and a hit batsman. Gempp stepped to the plate and walked to push across the first run of the inning. Scott Ruthven replaced Bennion with the bases loaded and no one out. Ruthven then started a pitcher to catcher to first base, double play and forced the final batter to ground out for his first save at Wright State.

Bennion was credited with the victory, improving to 2-1 overall, and threw 1 1/3 innings of relief and recorded one strikeout.

Hamilton paced the Raiders in the second game with a pair of hits and two runs scored. Parker extended his hitting streak twenty games with double and also scored two runs in the contest.

The Raiders will return to action on Monday, April 16, with a contest against Notre Dame (OH) College at Nischwitz Stadium. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:30 under the lights.