The Wright State baseball team had a memorable home opener against Eastern Michigan, winning in comeback fashion in both games. The Raiders captured game one, 10-7, on a walk-off, three run home run from Justin Parker and then escaped with a 5-4 victory on a bases loaded hit-by-pitch in game two.

The Raiders fell behind 4-0 to start each contest, but rallied back to claim a pair of victories at the Athletes in Action Complex in Xenia. With the game one victory, the Raiders collected the 1000th victory in school history.

In game one, Michael Woytek got the start for WSU and surrendered four runs - three earned - in three innings of work. The rookie allowed seven hits, struck out one and didn't walk a batter in the no decision.

After Eastern Michigan took an early 4-0 lead, WSU answered with a pair of runs in the fourth inning on a two-RBI single off the bat of Aaron Fields. The Green and Gold tied the game in the fifth inning as Ross Vagedes and Gerald Ogrinc each plated RBI's in the inning.

EMU recaptured the lead in the fifth inning with a pair of runs, but WSU took their first lead of the game with a three-run eighth inning. In the eighth, Parker drove in his first RBI of the game with a double, followed by an RBI single by Jeff Mercer and an RBI ground out from Vagedes.

With the lead sitting at 7-6, freshman Ryan Portwood was called on to close out the game on the mound. EMU, however, would use a trio of base-hits and a walk to score the game tying run and force WSU to bat in the ninth inning.

Eagle reliever Robert Wendzicki would retire the first two WSU batters on ground balls to give WSU one out to claim the victory. With two outs, Fields singled for his second hit of the day, followed by a Jeremy Hamilton single to put two men aboard. With the count at 1-1, Parker sent an offering sailing over the left field fence to give WSU a walk-off victory in their home opener for the first time since 2005.

Portwood garnered the win on the mound, improving to 1-0 on the season, and gave WSU their 1000th victory in program history. He allowed three hits, one run and a walk in the inning of service.

In game one, Parker drove in four RBI's and collected three hits, while Fields and Vagedes would each collect two RBI's. Ogrinc chipped in a pair of singles, while three other Raiders would record hits in the game. EMU stranded nine runners in game one, while WSU left only four players on base in the game.

Game two started out much the same way for both teams, with EMU staking to a 4-0 advantage after six innings. Wright State starter Michael Meintel threw five innings for the fourth straight start, allowing four runs on eight hits. He struck out a pair of EMU hitters and walked one before leaving the game in the sixth inning trailing 4-0.

After reliever Greg Robinson entered the game and recorded three outs in the sixth inning, WSU's offense mounted another rally against the EMU pitching staff. The sixth inning started with Kory Twede reaching on a hit-by-pitch, before moving to third on a one-out double from R.J. Gundolff. Fields singled to the pitcher to load the bases with one out. After a fly out from Hamilton, Parker stepped to the plate and ran the count full against EMU starter Sean Hoffman.

The payoff pitch was swung at by Parker, who sent the ball 345-feet over the right-center field fence to knot the game a four runs apiece. It was the second longball of the day for Parker and gave him the first grand slam since Brian Shoup hit one against last season against Dayton at Nischwitz Stadium.

Robinson retired the side in the seventh inning, setting the stage for another final inning rally by WSU. In their half of the seventh, WSU used a trio of singles to load the bases on EMU's Wendzicki. After the Eagles changed pitchers, Gundolff stepped to the plate and was hit in the back by the first pitch, scoring the game-winning run from third.

It was the second walk-off victory of the day and gave Robinson his first win of the 2008 season. Robinson allowed only a single in two innings of work to improve to 1-2 overall this season.

Parker collected only one hit in game two, but drove in four RBI's and scored a run to extend his hitting streak to ten games, dating back to the 2007 season. Mercer singled in game two, pushing his hitting streak to 12 games, and Gundolff reached base three times in the game and drove in an RBI.

The Raiders are now 3-9 overall and will wrap-up their series with Eastern Michigan on Sunday, March 16. The Raiders and Eagles are slated to take to the field at 11:00 a.m. on the Athletes in Action Complex in Xenia.