DAYTON — The Wright State baseball program erased a two-run deficit to upend Youngstown State 4-3 on Friday afternoon at Nischwitz Stadium. 

The Raiders improved to 19-19 on the season and 12-4 in Horizon League play, while YSU dropped to 15-27 and 8-9 against conference opponents. The teams will continue the three-game set tomorrow at 2 p.m. 

Alec Sayre led Wright State offensively, as he went 3-for-4 at the plate with a walk and a run batted in. Sammy Sass batted 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI, while Justin McConnell added two singles. Avery Fisher contributed with a team-leading two RBI to go along with a stolen base. Jay Luikart reached base three times on two walks and a single. 

Starting pitcher Jake Shirk (5-4) earned the winning decision after tossing a career-high 8.1 innings. The Fort Wayne, Ind., native allowed just three runs, two earned, on nine hits and one walk while striking out six batters. The sophomore threw 76 of his 107 pitches for strikes and induced 10 groundouts. 

Luikart came in relief for Shirk with two runners on and one out in the top of the ninth. The two-way player avoided trouble by recording consecutive outs to seal the win and his fifth save of the season. 

Youngstown State was in control for most of the series opener, as the Penguins led 3-1 following a two-run homer off the bat of Andre Good in the top of the sixth inning. 

However, WSU captured a 4-3 edge with three runs over the next two frames. In the bottom of the sixth, Sass reached base on an infield single and came around to score on a groundout by Fisher. The momentum continued in favor of the Raiders in the bottom of the seventh, as Sayre and Sass delivered RBI singles to put WSU in front. 

Wright State held on to the one-run advantage for the remainder of the game, clinching its fourth victory in a row.