DAYTON — Andrew Patrick broke Wright State's single-season school record in home runs with his 17th of the year, lifting the Raiders to a series-clinching 8-6 victory over Milwaukee on Saturday afternoon at Nischwitz Stadium. 

WSU improved to 33-18 overall and 20-6 in the Horizon League with its fourth win of the week and its eighth in a row. The Raiders will aim for the series sweep of MKE (22-26, 10-15 HL) on Sunday, May 14, at 1 p.m. 

Wright State had the majority of its offensive production in the bottom of the third inning, as the Raiders jumped out to a 7-0 lead with seven runs on five hits and two walks. Julian Greenwell started the scoring with a three-run homer, followed by a two-run double off the bat of Patrick Fultz, an RBI single by Luke Arnold, and an RBI groundout by Carson Clark. 

The Panthers stormed back with six runs over the next three innings to close their deficit to 7-6. A four-run fifth inning highlighted the rally.

WSU's pitching staff put the late charge to rest by blanking Milwaukee in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings. Patrick delivered his record-breaking homer with the bases empty in the bottom of the eighth to push the Raider edge to 8-6. 

Patrick finished the day with three hits and two runs scored, while Greenwell batted 3-for-4 with a homer and three runs batted in. Fultz went 3-for-4 at the plate with Wright State's lone double of the game and two RBI. Clark reached base twice on a single and a walk to go along with an RBI and a run. 

Starting pitcher Jake Shirk (5-4) collected the winning decision after striking out six batters in five innings of work. He opened the contest with three shutout frames but was tagged for five runs, two earned, in his last two frames. Josh Laisure stood out with two scoreless innings out of the bullpen, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out two batters. Joey Valentine fired a scoreless ninth inning for his fourth save of the season.