Feb. 24, 2007

Box Score

OXFORD, MS - The Wright State baseball team brought home their first victory of the season, a 1-0 decision over #24 Mississippi. Dan Barker threw five innings and allowed only three hits and WSU pounded out five hits in the rain shortened vicotry.

John Kopilchack got the Raiders offense started in the third inning with a bunt single and advanced to third on a Ross Oeder single to right center. With runners on the corners and no outs, Dan Biedenharn executed a sacrifice bunt down the first base line, scoring Kopilchack from third.

In the Rebels half of the third, WSU starter Dan Barker got into some trouble when he walked the first two batters of the inning and a bunt single loaded he bases. With the bases loaded and no one out, Barker coaxed a double play ball out of Cody Overbeck, cutting down the runner at home and first, and a pop-up to Justin Parker at shortstop ended the inning.

The Raiders threatened to break the game open in the fifth. The Green and Gold loaded the bases with one out in the inning, thanks to an Oeder single and walks by Jeremy Hamilton and Brian Shoup. UM pitcher Lance Lynn proceeded to strike out the next two batters, keeping the score 1-0 in favor of the Raiders.

In the fifth inning, Barker walked a pair and another runner reached on an error by Shoup in right field to load the bases for Mississippi. With two outs in the inning, Barker again forced a fly ball that found the glove of Kopilchack in center field, just feet from the fence, to end another threat.

That was the last pitch thrown by Barker, as Chris Nighland was brought into the game, before the lightning and rain began to pound the Oxford area. Barker picked up his first win of the season and allowed only three hits, all singles. The complete game, shutout was the first of his career, including two seasons with Ohio State.

Oeder paced the Raiders offense with a two-for-three day, including double, while Aaron Fields, J.C. Ramatowski and Kopilchack all collected hits. Biedenharn drove in the only RBI for WSU in the game.

Wright State improves to 1-1 overall and will conclude their series with Mississippi on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 12:30 p.m. Dayton time.

###