Baseball Reaches 40-Win Plateau in Series Opener at UIC

Thursday, May 19

Chicago, IL

5:00 PM

Wright State University

40-14, 22-5

UIC

23-27, 14-11

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Wright State	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	1	4	11	2
UIC	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	3	11	1

Baseball Reaches 40-Win Plateau in Series Opener at UIC

5/19/2016 4:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

By: WSU Athletic Media Relations

For the second consecutive season and fifth time in school history overall, the Wright State baseball team has reached the 40-win plateau, having accomplished the feat with a 4-3, 13-inning decision in the series opener at UIC Thursday afternoon.

The game was a scoreless pitcher's duel between WSU's Jesse Scholtens and the Flames' Ian Lewandowski until the Raiders pushed across a run in the fifth. JD Orr led off with a hit to left and, after moving up to second on a Brad Macciocchi ground out, scored on John Brodner's double down the right field line.

UIC tied it with an unearned run in the sixth, only to see Wright State go back in front with two in the eighth. Matt Morrow started the frame with an infield single, but was forced out at second on a grounder by Mitch Roman. After Peyton Burdick was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second, a walk to Ryan Fucci appeared to load the bases, but Roman, who was running on the pitch, scored as the catcher's throw went into left, allowing Burdick to go to third.

Sean Murphy then hit a high chopper to second that the Flames were able to force out Fucci at second, but not turn the double play as Burdick scored to make it 3-1.

The Raiders appeared to be in great shape to win the game in regulation as the margin was still 3-1 with just a runner at first and two outs, but UIC forced extra innings as three straight singles produced two runs before the final out was recorded.

It stayed that way until WSU came up with the game-winner in the 13th without the benefit of a hit. Gabe Snyder walked to start the inning, stole second and advanced to third on a Zach Weatherford sacrifice bunt. Pinch-hitter Jason DeFevers then plated Snyder with a sacrifice fly to right on a 0-2 pitch.

The Flames nearly tied it again in the bottom of the frame. With two outs and a runner on second, David Cronin hit a grounder deep in the infield for a hit, but Morrow threw to Murphy at the plate to get the runner trying to score from second for the final out of the contest.

The 13-inning decision is the longest that Wright State has played for a win since defeating Milwaukee 6-5 in 13 innings at Nischwitz Stadium on March 22, 2015.

After giving up the two runs in the ninth, Zane Collins (3-1) threw four shutout innings the rest of the way for the win, striking out five. Starter Jesse Scholtens allowed no earned runs in six innings, fanning seven, while E.J. Trapino had two strikeouts in 1.1 innings of relief.

Offensively, Burdick and Fucci each had two hits for the Raiders.

It is the second straight year that Wright State has won 40 or more games in a season as the Raiders finished 43-17 in 2015. WSU has now had 40 more victories in a campaign five times in program history (41-14 in 1987, 45-12, in 1989, 40-16 in 1992, 2015, 2016).

Wright State (40-14, 22-5) and UIC (23-27, 14-11 Horizon) play game two of the series Friday at noon Eastern.