DAYTON — The Wright State baseball program collected a 6-3 series-opening win over Indiana State on Thursday afternoon at Nischwitz Stadium.
WSU (3-8) will continue its three-game set on Friday morning, with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m.
The Raiders' one-two-three hitters went a combined 6-for-11 at the plate with four extra-base hits and four runs batted in.
Julian Greenwell led the charge by going 2-for-3 with a triple, home run, walk, and hit by pitch.
Sammy Sass batted 2-for-4 with two RBI, while
Alec Sayre was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI.
Luke Arnold added a two-run single in the fifth inning.
Sayre and
Justin McConnell recorded steals, while the defense committed just one error compared to 13 assists.
Starting pitcher
Aaron Ernst (1-1) earned a quality start by limiting the Sycamores (6-5) to two runs on six hits and three walks in five innings. The senior held ISU to no runs on no hits in his last two frames. Garrett Simpson pitched two scoreless innings out of the bullpen, while
Tristan Haught was tagged for one run in 1.1 innings.
Jay Luikart induced a double play in the top of the ninth for his first save of the season.
Indiana State had its fair share of opportunities with 11 hits but stranded 12 runners on base, including two or more in four innings. ISU's Will Gobble (0-1) was charged with the decision after allowing one earned run in the fifth inning.
The Raiders got off to a hot start as Greenwell hit his first career leadoff home run in the opening frame. Sayre followed with an infield single was brought home on a double off the bat of Sass.
The Sycamores answered back with a pair of runs, resulting in a 2-2 tie heading into the fourth inning. The game remained at 2-all until the bottom of the fifth inning when Sass drilled an RBI single to score Greenwell from second. With two outs in the fifth, Arnold pushed WSU's lead to 5-2 with a two-run single, bringing home
Zane Harris and Sass.
While Indiana State reduced its deficit to 5-3 in the top of the eighth, Wright State responded with a pair of extra-base hits in the bottom of the inning, extending its edge to 6-3.
The Sycamores threatened with runners on first and second in the top of the ninth but hit into a double play to end the game.
