ATLANTA — The Wright State baseball program jumped out to an early first-inning lead but finished on the losing side of a 16-5 decision at No. 11 Georgia Tech.  

WSU (0-2) will close their first series of the season on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at Russ Chandler Stadium.

The Raiders brought eight batters to the plate in the opening inning, scoring two runs in the process. Jay Luikart and Sammy Sass started the frame with consecutive walks and came around to score on an RBI single by Alec Sayre and a bases-loaded hit by pitch by Julian Greenwell. 

The 2-0 lead did not last for long, as the Yellow Jackets (2-0) scored six runs on six hits in the bottom of the first inning. 

Wright State held Georgia Tech in check in the second and third inning but could not cut its deficit, leaving the score at 6-2 heading into the bottom of the fourth. The Jackets belted a combined four home runs over the next three innings, pushing their advantage to 14-2. 

Sass and Luikart recorded singles in the top of the seventh inning, followed by Avery Fisher reaching base on a walk. Pinch-hitter Drew Baker proceeded to hit a bases-clearing double, bringing the score to 14-5 in favor of the Jackets. However, Tech pushed its lead to 16-5 with a two-run homer in the bottom half of the inning.

The Jackets cruised the rest of the way en route to their series-clinching win. 

Jake Shirk lasted three innings on the mound in his first career start, allowing six earned runs on seven hits and two walks. He pitched consecutive scoreless innings after giving up six in the first inning.

Alex Theis, Chris Gallagher, and Sam Wirsing made appearances in relief, giving up one or more runs apiece. Riley Perlich finished the game by tossing a scoreless eighth inning. 

The Jacket pitching staff limited the typically explosive Raiders to five runs on five hits. Baker led the group with a three-run double in his first plate appearance. Luikart reached twice on a single and walk, while Sayre added an RBI single in the first inning. Julian Greenwell endured a hit by pitch in each of his three at-bats. 

The Raiders managed to stay patient at the plate with seven walks. Justin Riemer walked a team-high two times in his first career start. 

Defensively, WSU committed just one fielding error while also inducing two double plays.