Steffen Leads Baseball Past Wilmington, 8-7

Monday, April 30

Nischwitz Stadium

6:30 PM

Wright State University

26-15

Wilmington

16-16

Wilmington

Wright State

4/30/2007 12:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: WSU Athletic Media Relations

The Wright State baseball team trailed most of the game to Wilmington College on Monday evening, but a five-run eighth inning proved to be the difference in an 8-7 victory for WSU. Kris Steffen drove in a career-high four RBI's, including the game-tying run in the eighth inning, and Scott Ruthven picked up his first career victory as a Raider.

The Quakers got on the board in the first inning with a pair of runs off of WSU starter John Lambert. With two outs in the inning, Wilmington collected two hits and capitalized on a balk and an error by the Raiders to tally two unearned runs, jumping out to a 2-0 lead.

Wilmington added to their lead in the fourth inning with a home run from Mike Kroeger and another unearned run, this time on WSU reliever Jordan Wolfe.

Lambert threw three innings and allowed two runs on five hits. None of the runs were earned and he struck out one in the start.

Justin Parker got things started in the Raiders half of the fourth inning, roping a double to start the inning. Parker moved to third on a balk by WC pitcher Bryce DeWeese and scored on an RBI single from Steffen to cut the Quakers lead to 4-1.

Parker struck again in the fifth inning with his fourth home run of the season. Parker got the Raiders on the board with as he sent a pitch 382 feet over the left-center field fence to cut the lead to 4-2.

Wilmington tallied two more runs in the seventh inning, as Greg Robinson surrendered a pair of unearned runs. The Raiders committed their third error of the night in the inning, allowing WC to take a 6-2 lead.

The Green and Gold posted a single run in the seventh inning when Parker was hit by a DeWeese pitch with one out. Parker moved to second on a Stephen Marquez single and scored when Steffen singled to drive in his second run of the game and close the gap to 6-3.

Ruthven came on in the eighth and held Wilmington scoreless and the Raiders answered with five runs in the eight to take an 8-6 lead.

DeWeese walked the first three Raiders he faced to load the bases. Ken Branscom came on to face Dan Biedenharn, who delivered a two-RBI single up the middle to cut the deficit to one run. After the Quakers turned a double play, Parker was hit by his second pitch of the evening and Marquez walked to load the bases. Steffen then drove in two more RBI's to give the Raiders the lead. After an intentional walk to pinch hitter Brian Shoup, Sam Mote walked for the second time in the inning to push the eventual game winning run across the plate.

Wilmington would mount a rally in the ninth inning with a double from Jason Iles to start the inning. After striking a Ruthven strikeout, the Quakers used a pair of singles to plate the first run of the inning and cut WSU's lead to 8-7. Ruthven stuck out the next batter and forced a ground out to end the game.

Ruthven recorded his first victory in the Green and Gold with two innings of work, allowing one run on three hits. Ruthven is now 1-0 on the season with a 4.19 ERA and two saves this season.

Steffen paced the Raiders at the plate with a three-for-five day at the plate and set a career-high with four RBI's. Parker scored four runs and colleted his twentieth double of the season. Mote was one-for-two in the game with three walks and an RBI, while five other Raiders colleted hits in the contest.

The Green and Gold are now 26-15 overall this season heading into their showdown with crosstown rival Dayton on Wednesday, May 2. The Raiders, who are 11 games over .500 for the first time since 1994, will take on the Flyers at Nischwitz Stadium at 6:30.