DAYTON — The Wright State baseball program dropped its series opener to UIC 8-6 on Thursday afternoon at Nischwitz Stadium.

The Raiders fell to 14-17 on the season and 7-3 in the Horizon League play, while UIC improved to 10-16 overall and 4-3 against conference opponents. The teams will resume the three-game series tomorrow at 2 p.m. 

Julian Greenwell paced Wright State offensively, as he doubled twice and drove in a run. Sammy Sass belted a two-run homer in his lone hit of the day, while Zane Harris and Jay Luikart each went 2-for-4 at the plate. Alec Sayre batted 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. Gehrig Anglin added an RBI double and a stolen base. 

WSU starting pitcher Jake Shirk lasted 5.2 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out five batters on a season-high 108 pitches. Relief pitcher Chris Gallagher (0-1) was charged with his first collegiate loss after giving up three runs on four hits and a walk in 1.2 innings. Luikart was tagged for one run in the last 1.2 innings of action. 

In total, the HL contest featured six lead changes and four ties. 

Entering the fourth inning down 2-1, WSU claimed its first lead of the game thanks to an RBI double by Anglin and an RBI groundout by Harris. Wright State carried its momentum into the fifth, as Luke Arnold walked and came around to score on Greenwell's second double, pushing its edge to 4-2.

UIC Ryan Lin-Peistrup blasted a two-out, three-run roundtrip in the top of the sixth to put the Flames in front 5-4. However, Sass gave the Raiders their lead back with a two-run homer in the bottom of the frame. 

Entering the eighth inning down 6-5, UIC had the final push with three runs on a two-run double and a sac fly off Luikart.