DAYTON — The Wright State baseball program earned a 9-7 comeback victory over Army to clinch its first series win of the 2023 season on Sunday afternoon at Nischwitz Stadium. 

The Raiders improved to 5-9 on the season and will continue their eight-game homestand on Tuesday, March 14, versus Toledo.

Wright State entered the bottom of the sixth inning trailing 5-1 but rallied back with eight runs over the next two innings to go up 9-5. 

Jay Luikart reached base on a triple in the bottom of the sixth and came around to score on a two-run homer by Gehrig Anglin. WSU then put together a six-run seventh inning after batting around the lineup with four hits and four walks. Luke Arnold and Andrew Patrick recorded RBI singles, while Sammy Sass drove in a run on a sacrifice fly. Parker Harrison punctuated the scoring burst with a two-run double. 

Army (6-8) attempted a late rally with two runs in the eighth frame but was left off the scoreboard in the ninth inning to seal the Raider victory. 

WSU finished with 12 hits offensively, including five for extra bases. Anglin led the way by batting 3-for-4 with a two-run homer, two runs scored, and a walk. Luikart went 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, and a team-high three runs, while Harrison added a two-run double and a single over four plate appearances. 

Luke Stofel made his second start of the season, allowing five runs and striking out five batters in 5.2 innings of work. Warren Hartzell (2-0) earned the winning decision after firing a scoreless seventh inning in relief. Joey Valentine recorded the final five outs en route to his first collegiate save. The freshman held the Black Knights scoreless on one hit and two walks while striking out three batters in the standout performance.