FRANKLIN, Wis. – Wright State scored nine runs with two outs and exploded for 19 hits to top the Milwaukee baseball team 12-8 at Franklin Field on Friday night.
 
"Early on, we did a really good job against their lefty with the lead," head coach Scott Doffek said. "We had a couple opportunities to make a really big pitch and we just didn't do it. And against that team, you absolutely have to do it."
 
Milwaukee (20-29, 9-17 HL) took the early lead with three runs in the first two innings including a solo homer from Tommy Benson, but the Panthers got into some trouble in the fifth inning.
 
Wright State (26-25, 19-9 HL) loaded the bases to force Milwaukee to go to the bullpen and the Raiders took advantage. WSU singled in a pair and followed with a three-run homer to pull in front 6-3.
 
The Raiders added runs in each of the next three innings to build their lead to 11-4.
 
"They did a lot of their damage with two outs and two out hits usually win you ballgames. I think that was the difference," Doffek said.
 
Milwaukee battled back in the eighth, tallying four runs on four hits including a double from Justin Hausser and triple from Ty Olejnik to cut the WSU lead to three, but Raiders' closer Jay Luikart ended the threat.
 
Luikart stayed on in the ninth and the Panthers went down in order, dropping the 12-8 decision.
 
Keagon Kaufmann was charged for the loss after being tagged for four hits and two runs in the fifth inning.
 
Ryan Hoerter was solid in the start for Milwaukee, with four solid innings, but ran into the trouble in the next frame.
 
Olejnik had his second straight three-hit night as he finished 3-for-4 including the triple.
 
Benson had a pair of hits including the home run while Nate DeYoung drove in a pair, finishing 2-for-5.
 
Eight of the Raiders' 19 hits went for extra bases including a decisive three-run homer from Gehrig Anglin.
 
The series final is set for Saturday at 2:00 pm for Senior Day. Live links can be found on MKEPanthers.com.