NORMAN, OK – The Wright State baseball team fell short to Oklahoma 20-0 in In the Friday night series opener. WSU is now 1-3 on the season, and will continue the action in a Saturday double-header at 2:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET, for games two and three of the weekend series.
Game 2 - Saturday, February 24 - 2:00 p.m. ET - Live Stats - Watch
Game 3 - Saturday, February 24 – 5:30 p.m. ET - Live Stats - Watch
The Raiders struggled offensively with only five hits, four walks, and one hit by pitch, compared to the fifteen strikeouts in the loss.
Patrick Fultz was the only Raider with an extra base hit, reaching base once on a double down left field in the top of the ninth.
Jay Luikart reached base twice, once on a single through the left side in the fourth, and was later walked in the eighth.
Luke Arnold also reached base twice, notching a single to left center and getting walked in the ninth.
Sammy Sass adding a single and stolen base in the second, and single to left field by
Boston Smith rounded out the WSU hits.
Gus Gregory reached base twice for the Raiders, getting walked in the fifth and ninth, while
Julian Greenwell reached base once after getting hit by a pitch in the sixth.
The Raider pitching staff allowed 20 runs on 21 hits, eight walks and one hit by pitch while recording seven strikeouts. Starting pitcher
Jake Shirk (0-1) was charged with the loss after allowing seven runs on nine hits with three walks and one hit by pitch. Shirk recorded four strikeouts in his four innings on the mound.
Chet Lax came in during the middle of the fifth, allowing six runs on four hits with one walk and a wild pitch in his 2.1 innings of work. Notably, Lax allowed only one hit in the sixth, preventing the Sooners from putting a run on the board.
Joey Valentine closed out the night after entering in the seventh. He allowed three runs on one hit with three walks, while striking out two batters.
Oklahoma got off to an early lead, putting up two runs in the first, and three in the second. The Sooners put a run on the board in all but one inning, earning six runs in the fifth, with a two RBI single setting them in motion for the following four runs.
John Spikerman, Michael Snyder, and Scott Mudler each led Oklahoma with three hits, with Mudler putting up a three-run homer in the seventh. Starting pitcher Braden Davis secured the win by holding the Raiders to three hits, one walk, and one hit by pitch while recording eight strikeouts in his six innings on the mound.
The series will continue on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET at Oklahoma. Both games are expected to stream on ESPN+ with live stats provided as well.
