Wright State and Stanford  played an epic, four-plus hour game on Friday night that ended well after 2 am eastern.  In the first-ever meeting between the two teams, the Raiders fell to the Cardinal 4-3 in 13 innings in the first round of the NCAA regional tournament for WSU's longest post-season game.

Both teams started quickly.  Raider second baseman Matt Morrow put the second pitch of the game over the right field wall.  It was Morrow's first home run of the year.

Stanford responded in the bottom half of the first, as Beau Branton led off with a single up the middle, then advanced to second on a wild pitch.  He would score on a single to left by Nico Hoerner,  who went to third on an error by J.D. Orr.  Hoerner would score moments later on a second wild pitch by starting pitcher Ryan Weiss.

Stanford starter Tristan Beck settled in after the Morrow homer, allowing just one other hit over the first three innings and striking out five Raiders.

The Cardinal threatened in the third.  Tawa led off with a double, and advanced to third on an infield hit by Hoerner.  Weiss got out of the jam, the beneficiary of a baserunning blunder by Stanford and his own effective pitching.
   
Both teams put runners in scoring position in the fourth and fifth innings.  Only Stanford was able to convert, with Alec Wilson scoring in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single from Tawa.

Weiss's night came to an end with one out in the sixth, with runners on first and third.  Mitch Gremling got out of a jam, getting Christian Robinson and Christian Molfetta to pop out.

Weiss's line:  5.1 innings, eight hits, three runs, three strike outs and three walks.

Toughness and perseverance are calling cards for the Raiders, though.  Down 3-1 entering the seventh, the four seed posted a pair of runs as Bentley Jones and Zack Weatherford crossed the plate.  Both were runners inherited by All-American Jack Little, who entered the game with one out.  Little came into the game with opponents hitting just .170 against him.

Both bullpens were outstanding the rest of the way.  Gremling and Jeremy Randolph kept Stanford scoreless for six innings, allowing only four hits.  Stanford relievers were equally effective, throwing 6.2 innings of one-hit, scoreless baseball.

Wright State's best opportunity to score was in the top of the 12th. Orr and Burdick walked with two outs.  Freshman left hander Jacob Palisch escaped, getting Gabe Snyder to line out to left.

The end came in the bottom of the 13th.  Randolph hit the lead-off batter Andrew Daschback, then got Kyle Stowers to fly out and struck out Will Matthiessen.  Centerfielder Robinson pulled an 0-1 pitch down the right field line that brought around Daschback to score the winning run.

Randolph took the loss, but was outstanding.  He nearly doubled his longest outing of the year (3.2 innings), going 6.2, giving up four hits, one run, striking out six and walking only one batter.  

The Raiders will play Baylor on Saturday at 6 pm eastern in an elimination game.  Baylor lost to Cal State Fullerton 6-2 in the opening game on Friday.  The game can be seen on ESPN3 and on the WatchESPN application.