MASON, Ohio – Sophomore outfielder JP Peltier was named the Joe Nuxhall Classic MVP after hitting a walk-off three-run homer to defeat Xavier, 10-8, in the championship game Wednesday evening.
 
After a nearly two-hour rain delay, Wright State opened the scoring with a four-run first inning, as Nate Manley and Braylen Blomquist each drove in two runs on singles. Xavier responded quickly, tying the game at four in the top of the second with a double and two home runs.
 
The game remained scoreless through the seventh, as freshman lefty J.J. Thompson entered in the third and struck out five while holding the Musketeers hitless over 3.2 innings. Fellow freshman Malachi Paplanus took the mound in the sixth, allowing just one hit over 2.1 innings and striking out four.
 
The Raiders broke the tie in the eighth. Blomquist singled, moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Will Cook, and scored on a pinch-hit single to left field by Peltier. On the play, Peltier advanced to second on a fielding error, moved to third on a Hunter Warren single, and scored on a single by Boston Smith.
 
Xavier surged back in the ninth with four runs to take the lead, but Wright State carried the late-game momentum into the bottom half. Blomquist grounded out to allow Patrick Fultz to score, making it a one-run game. With Cam Gilkerson on second, Cook reached on an error before Peltier hit the game-winning walk-off homer down the left-field line on the first pitch, sealing the 10-8 victory.
 
Wright State improves to 18-13 on the season and returns to Horizon League play this weekend, hosting Purdue Fort Wayne for a three-game series beginning Friday, April 11, at 3 p.m.