DAYTON —
Julian Greenwell hit a walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Wright State baseball program a series-winning 11-10 victory over Indiana State on Sunday afternoon at Nischwitz Stadium.
WSU (4-9) jumped out to a 4-0 lead after five innings, but Indiana State (7-6) got in front by exploding for nine runs in the sixth inning. While ISU extended their edge to 10-4 in the top of the eighth inning, the Raiders rallied back with five runs on five hits in the bottom of the frame. The Raiders scored twice on a pair of RBI hits in the bottom of the ninth to seal the comeback win.
Alec Sayre led Wright State offensively by going 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles and four runs batted in.
Gehrig Anglin batted 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI, while Greenwell,
Jay Luikart, and
Justin Riemer also finished with multi-hit performances.
Sammy Sass,
Justin McConnell, and Riemer scored a team-leading two runs apiece.
Starting pitcher
Sebastian Gongora got off to a strong start, holding ISU scoreless on just three hits and no walks in his first five innings of action. However, the Sycamores tagged the freshman lefty for three runs on two hits and one walk in the sixth inning.
Garret Simpson lasted one-third of an inning in relief, allowing six runs on five hits. ISU scored its 10th and final run off relief pitcher
Chris Gallagher in the eighth inning.
Tristan Haught and
Jay Luikart (1-0) were bright spots out of the bullpen, limiting the visitors to no runs on just one hit in a combined 2.2 innings. Luikart received the win after pitching a scoreless ninth inning.
The Raiders opened a 4-0 lead by reaching the scoreboard in three consecutive innings. Anglin got things started with an RBI double to deep left field in the bottom of the third. WSU added to its lead in the following inning thanks to a two-run double off the bat of Sayre. McConnell reached scoring position on a one-out triple in the bottom of the fifth and came around to score on a single by Luikart.
The Sycamores took control with nine runs on eight hits and one walk in the top of the sixth inning and added a single run in the eighth frame. The visitors first eight batters reached base in the sixth, including two by way of double.
Entering the eighth inning down 10-4, the Raiders rallied by scoring five runs with two outs. Sayre's second two-run double of the game and Anglin's two-run homer over the left-field wall highlighted the late charge.
Trailing 10-9 in the bottom of the ninth inning, McConnell led off with a strikeout but managed to reach first on a passed ball. Luikart laid down a sacrifice bunt to get McConnell in scoring position, and Riemer followed with a game-tying single up the middle. Greenwell doubled into the left-center gap with two outs in the inning, plating Riemer for the winning run.
The Raiders will continue their eight-game homestand on Wednesday versus Xavier. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
