DAYTON, Ohio – Wright State scored eight runs over the final two innings and erased a two-run Milwaukee lead as the Raiders took the rubber match of a three-game series by a 12-6 score.
 
The Panthers scored five runs in the seventh inning to take a 6-4 lead, with a bases-clearing triple off the bat of Camden Kuhnke giving the Panthers their first lead of the game. Tyler Bickers, like Kuhnke, had a multi-hit game including an RBI double, while Sean Tillmon got Milwaukee's offense started with a solo home run in the sixth. Kuhnke also pitched for the Panthers and was Milwaukee's most effective arm allowing no runs over 1 2/3 innings with a pair of strikeouts.
 
"You have to play well in all facets when you have the challenge of beating a quality program and we didn't do that," Shaun Wegner said postgame. "Throughout the game you could single out each facet of the game and what could have been done differently."
 
Jay Luikart led the way for the Raiders with four RBIs, which included the game's opening run in the bottom of the first on a groundout after Ben Vore tripled to lead off the bottom of the first.
 
Wright State added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run by Nate Manley and two-run double by Luikart. Milwaukee starter Riley Peterson was lifted in the fourth and charged with four runs over 3 1/3 innings for the Panthers.
 
Tillmon got the top of the sixth started with his first home run as a Panther to trim the deficit to 4-1.
 
The home run sparked Milwaukee's offense in the following inning, as Bickers' RBI double was followed by walk to load the bases ahead of Kuhnke's three-run triple as Milwaukee took the lead. Dallan Quigley brought Kuhnke home with a base hit into centerfield to extend Milwaukee's lead to 6-4.
 
Luikart homered to pull Wright State back within one in the bottom of the seventh, before the Raiders wrangled back the lead at 7-6. WSU added five runs in the bottom of the eighth to pull away with a six-run advantage.
 
Johnny Kelliher took the loss, as the Panther bullpen struggled to get outs down the stretch of the game.
 
Ty Roder started and gave Wright State 5 2/3 innings allowing just the Tillmon home run, Garrett Peters picked up the win as he allowed just one hit and struck out six Panthers over the final 2 1/3 innings for WSU.
 
"Ultimately we had a chance to win three this weekend and we are coming home 1-2," Wegner added. "We will regroup, have an intentional week of practice, and head to Northern Kentucky, where we will face the league leaders."
 
Milwaukee will be back on the road next weekend for another Horizon League series at Northern Kentucky beginning on March 22 at 1:00 p.m. (CT).