Raiders to host in-state rival Cincinnati Tuesday afternoon

Tuesday, April 21

Dayton, OH

3 PM

Wright State University

Cincinnati

Photo by: Addyson Olsen

Raiders to host in-state rival Cincinnati Tuesday afternoon

4/20/2026 5:00:00 PM | Baseball

DAYTON- The Wright State baseball team (17-19, 11-1 HL) remains at home during the midweek, hosting in-state rival Cincinnati on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch at Nischwitz Stadium is slated for 3 p.m.

GAME INFORMATION
Tuesday, Apr. 21 – LIVE STATS

PROJECTED STARTER
Tuesday- JJ Thompson, LHP

HISTORY VS. CINCINNATI
Wright State and Cincinnati will meet for the 91st time Tuesday evening, with the Raiders leading the series 48-41-1. Last season, the Raiders and Bearcats met at Prasco Park, with Wright State coming out on top 10-3, advancing to and winning the championship game against Xavier.

The Raiders came up short of the Bearcats 8-5 when the two teams met at Cincinnati earlier this season, despite a two-homer day from Gus Georgy. The junior drove in all five of the Raiders' runs on a pair of two-run blasts and an RBI double in the top of the ninth.

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Cincinnati enters Nischwitz Stadium with a 27-15 record this season and has an 8-10 mark in Big 12 Conference play. The Bearcats are coming off

The Bearcats feature six hitters batting above .300, led by Enzo Infelise, who is hitting an impressive .372 on the season. Quinton Coats provides the power for the Bearcats' offense with 23 home runs, good for second in Division I baseball.

LAST TIME OUT
The Raiders dropped the finale of their three-game set against Indiana State on Sunday afternoon, falling 11-8

Indiana State opened the scoring in the top of the first, plating three runs on an RBI single and a two-run double.

The Raiders punched back and took the lead with four runs of their own in the bottom of the second inning. Zac Butler got the Raiders on the board, scoring Braylen Blomquist on an RBI single. Then Keegan Holmstrom stepped up with the bases loaded and cleared the bases with a three-run single to right field, giving Wright State a 4-3 lead.

The two teams exchanged two-run frames in the fifth inning. Andrew Duncan roped an RBI triple to center field that scored Gus Gregory from first. Blomquist followed Duncan and scored him from third, looping an RBI single to left field.

The Sycamores responded and took the lead with four runs in the top of the sixth inning. Roell drove in a pair with an RBI double into the gap in left center, and the Beck launched a two-run homer off the scoreboard in right field.

Turner continued to swing a hot bat for the Raiders, launching his third homer in four games in the bottom of the eighth to cut the Indiana State lead to one. The right fielder launched a rocket to the opposite field and parked it over the wall in left center.

Indiana State would bring across two insurance runs in the top of the ninth with a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly. The Sycamores would sit the Raiders down in order in the bottom of the ninth to clinch the series sweep.

Chet Lax got the start on the mound for the Raiders, pitching four innings, allowing five runs (four earned) and striking out four Sycamores. Malachi Paplanus, Brody Papay, Matthew Johnson, Michael Zielinski, Abe Crall, and Brett Denby all saw action out of the bullpen. Sunday's outing was the first appearance on the mound for Brett Denby after making 13 appearances in the field.

HOT START TO THE HORIZON LEAGUE
Wright State has once again started conference play hot with an 11-1 record after its first four series against Milwaukee, Oakland, Northern Kentucky, and Youngstown State. This record surpasses what the Raiders did a season ago, a campaign that saw the Raiders go 25-5 in conference play to clinch their seventh consecutive regular-season title.

FLASHING THE LEATHER
Wright State has been one of the best defensive teams in the country in 2026, currently sporting a fielding percentage of 0.982. This ranks the Raiders 13th in the country and first in the Horizon League.

ROUNDING FOR THREE
Wright State has been stretching doubles into triples all season. The Raiders' 16 three-baggers and 0.44 triples per game lead the Horizon League and rank third and second in Division I baseball. Andrew Duncan leads the way with six triples on the season, good for first in the Horizon League and second in the nation. Cy Turner follows him with three on the season, good for second in the Horizon League, and 45th nationally.

BECAUSE HE GETS ON BASE
Redshirt freshman Keegan Holmstrom has been a professional hitter at the dish in his first season for the Raiders. Holmstrom leads the team and the Horizon League in batting average and on-base percentage; both marks currently rank in the top 100 nationally. His .402 batting average ranks 21st in the country while his .484 on-base percentage places 81st nationally.

DOUBLES MACHINE
JP Peltier has been spraying extra base hits all over the field this season. The junior leads the team and the Horizon League in doubles. His 17 two-baggers also rank him 11th nationally.

TURNER TIME
Cy Turner had a phenomenal week at the dish last week, hitting to the tune of a .600 batting average and a 2.154 OPS. Turner recorded 22 total bases on the week with three home runs and two triples. The senior was a force in the back half of the Raiders' batting order, leading the team in runs scored (7), RBIs (6), walks (4), and stolen bases (2).

SCOUTING THE 2026 SQUAD
The Raidergang returns 20 players from a season ago while adding 19 newcomers (10 transfers and nine true freshmen). The squad consists of five seniors, nine juniors, nine sophomores, and 16 freshmen.

The roster features a strong in-state contingent, with 54% of players (21) from Ohio. But the Raiders also recruit well nationally, with 13 other states being represented in the roster. The other 13 states include California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia.

UP NEXT
Wright State will hit the road this weekend, traveling up north to America's Dairyland for a three-game set with Milwaukee. The Raiders and Panthers will meet at 4 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday. All three games will be available to stream on ESPN+, and live stats will also be provided.