DAYTON — The Wright State baseball program collected a doubleheader sweep over Youngstown State on Saturday at Nischwitz Stadium. The Raiders won in walk-off fashion 4-3 in game one, followed by a 10-6 victory in the series finale.
WSU improved to 20-16 overall and 10-5 in Horizon League play after taking three consecutive games from Youngstown State (7-28, 3-11 HL). The Raiders will turn their focus to a meeting versus crosstown foe Dayton at Day Air Ballpark on Tuesday, April 18.
Game 1 - Youngstown State 3, Wright State 4
Boston Smith delivered a two-out, two-run walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting the Raiders to a series-clinching 4-3 win over Youngstown State in game one of the Saturday doubleheader.
Wright State entered the bottom of the ninth trailing down 3-1 but came away with three runs — all with two outs — to seal the victory.
Ben Vore reduced WSU's deficit to one run after scoring from third on a wild pitch.
Andrew Patrick was then intentionally walked, which led to a bases-loaded opportunity for Smith. He proceeded to belt a double to deep left field to seal the Raider win.
WSU finished with six hits and eight walks offensively, led by
Julian Greenwell with a career-high three doubles to accompany a run batted in. Smith drove in a team-best two runs while
Sammy Sass tripled for the second consecutive game.
Patrick Fultz reached base three times on a single and two walks.
Dane Thomas walked two times and scored the game-winning run.
Starting pitcher
Jake Shirk had a strong outing on the mound, allowing just two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four batters in six innings of work.
Alex Theis (2-3) earned the winning decision after giving up just one run in three innings out of the bullpen.
Game 2 - Youngstown State 6, Wright State 10
Wright State raced out to a 7-0 lead on its way to a 10-6 win over the Penguins in Saturday's second game.
The Raiders walked ten times and tied a season-high mark in stolen bases with seven in the series finale. WSU also took advantage of four Youngstown State errors.
Avery Fisher finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a two-run homer and two stolen bases.
Dane Thomas contributed with two singles and two runs batted in, while
Patrick Fultz went 1-for-2 with two walks, an RBI, and a run scored.
Jay Luikart and
Andrew Patrick both had two runs, one hit, and one walk.
Luke Arnold was 1-for-3 offensively with a walk, an RBI, and a run.
Tristan Haught (3-1) was credited with the victory after punching out five batters in 2.2 innings of scoreless work. He recorded four of his strikeouts in the top of the eighth frame.
Jay Luikart retired YSU in order in the top of the ninth.
The Raiders brought five runs home on just one hit and seven free passes (six walks) in the bottom of the first inning.
Julian Greenwell scored the game's first run on a wild pitch, while Fultz and Arnold notched bases-loaded walks. Thomas stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and punctuated the hot start with a two-run single.
Wright State kept its foot on the gas with an RBI groundout by
Boston Smith and a run off a throwing error by YSU's catcher in the bottom of the second, extending its lead to 7-0.
The Penguins responded with a solo homer in the top of the fourth, a four-spot in the top of the fifth, and an RBI single in the top of the sixth to reduce their deficit to 7-6.
Fisher came through with a two-run homer for WSU in the bottom of the seventh. Patrick recorded a leadoff single in the bottom of the eighth and came around to score on a fielder's choice groundout by
Sammy Sass to extend the Raider lead to 10-6.
The Penguins failed to threaten over the last three innings of action, as they were held scoreless on one hit and no walks in the stretch.
