RICHMOND, KY – The Wright State baseball team defeated Eastern Kentucky University 5-3 in the three-game weekend series opener on Friday afternoon. The Raiders are now 5-7 on the season, and will continue the series at Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, March 9 at 4:00 p.m.
Game 2 - Saturday, March 9 - 4:00 p.m. - Live Stats - Watch
The low-scoring game saw only five runs on seven hits from the Raiders, as
Julian Greenwell held a team high with two hits.
Drew Baker,
Jay Luikart,
Sammy Sass,
Boston Smith, and
Ben Vore each added one hit. Greenwell and Vore each had one homer on the day, while Luikart and Smith each put a double on the day.
Gus Gregory reached base twice on walks, and Smith once.
The game got off to a slow start, going scoreless for the first three innings. Wright State were the first to score, adding three runs in the top of the fourth, beginning with a Baker single to third, sending Greenwell to home plate. Smith followed with a double to left center, allowing Luikart to score.
Carson Clark earned an RBI, grounding out to short stop for Baker to score, ending the top of the fourth with a three to nothing lead. EKU reacted quickly putting two on the board off a single and reaching on a fielder's choice, lowering the Raider lead to one, 3-2.
Before a scoreless sixth innings, a homer to right field by Greenwell raised the Raider's advantage to two in the fifth, 4-2. Wright State continued their lead in the seventh with a home run by Vore, 5-2. EKU added the final run of the day in the bottom of the eighth with a sacrifice fly to left field, ending the game 5-3.
Starting pitcher
Jake Shirk was awarded the win after pitching seven innings with two runs on nine hits with no walks and four strikeouts.
Brayden Schoetzow entered in the ninth inning, striking out two batters, to be awarded the save.
Taking the Friday afternoon loss was Colonel starting pitcher Nathan Lawson. Lawson pitched five innings, allowing four runs on five hits with two walks. The Colonels totaled three runs on ten hits against their seven strikeouts. Conner Davis led at the plate for EKU, recording three hits in his four at bats, with no strikeouts. Davis recorded his second triple of the season in the bottom of the eighth.
