Raidergang set for HL-opening series at the Nisch

THE SERIES
Teams: Wright State (0-5, 0-0 HL)
Northern Kentucky (2-5, 0-0 HL)
Location: Nischwitz Stadium / Dayton, OH

The Wright State baseball team opens Horizon League play with a four-game homestand this weekend at Nischwitz Stadium against Northern Kentucky. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. ET on Friday, followed by a Saturday doubleheader with game one starting at 12 p.m. ET with game two to follow. The series wraps up with a 1 p.m. Sunday finale.

For Horizon League doubleheaders throughout the season, the first game will be a 7 inning game with the second game being a 9 inning game. If game one of the doubleheader goes extra innings then game two becomes a 7 inning game.

Fans can follow the action with live stats each game. All links are available on the team's schedule page. The capacity at both Nischwitz Stadium is being greatly reduced to ensure the safety of those in attendance. Only individuals from the general public on the COVID-Tracking pass list will be allowed in the venue.

The Raiders were the unanimous Horizon League preseason favorite, receiving 49 total points and all seven first-place votes from the League coaches. Northern Kentucky was picked seventh with 13 total points.

Probable Starters
Game 1:
WSU: Jake Schrand, RHP, Jr.
NKU: Ben Gerl, LHP, Fr.

Game 2:
WSU: Bradley Brehmer, RHP, So.
NKU: Kyle Klingenbeck, RHP, So.

Game 3:
WSU: Alex Theis, LHP, RSo.
NKU: Nick Noble, RHP, Jr.

Game 4:
WSU: Austin Cline, RHP, RSr.
NKU: Bryson Lonsbury, RHP, Sr.

LAST TIME OUT
Wright State dropped three games at Alabama last weekend, falling 8-4 on Friday despite an Alex Alders solo home run and a two-hit game from Damon Dues. Alex Theis tallied four strikeouts over his two-plus innings of relief in the opener. The series shifted to a doubleheader on Saturday due to inclement weather coming on Sunday, with the Raiders dropping a pair of one run games. In game one on Saturday, Wright State found itself trailing 4-0 before plating seven runs over the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to take the lead, only to see Alabama plate two runs in the eighth to tie the game and later win in the 11th inning. The second game was a pitchers' duel, with Jake Shrand striking out eight over five innings and Alabama only allowing a pair of Raider runs, ultimately pushing across the lone run in the sixth frame of the seven inning contest. Alec Sayre's three hits paced the Raiders in the second game of the series, while the Raiders had two hits in a 1-0 loss in the series finale.

NORSE NOTES
Northern Kentucky was 0-17 in the shortened 2020 season, while the Raiders took five of the seven meetings in 2019, including in the opening round of the 2019 Horizon League Championship. This season, Northern Kentucky is 2-5 with one-run wins over East Tennessee State and Belmont, but is being outscored 53-32 entering this weekend's series. The Norse scored 18 of those 32 runs in two games (11-10 win over Belmont, 14-8 loss to Lipscomb).

PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Jake Schrand was named the Horizon League Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday afternoon after he struck out eight batters over five-plus innings Saturday night on the way to the tough-luck 1-0 loss at No. 23 Alabama. Schrand allowed just five hits with a walk and one extra base hit, while throwing up a pair of 1-2-3 innings, including striking out the side in the bottom of the third against Alabama's 2-3-4 hitters.

BACK AT THE NISCH
This weekend's series will come just shy of one year since the Raiders' last home game at Nischwitz Stadium - a 16-5 midweek win over Miami (OH) in what turned out to be Wright State's final game of the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. Wright State's last Horizon League contest at The Nisch was May 24, 2019 - a 10-9 loss to Milwaukee in the Horizon League tournament.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Alex Alders

Bradley Brehmer

Austin Cline

Damon Dues

Alec Sayre

Jake Schrand

Alex Theis

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