'Dons Take Opener From Wright State

Friday, March 17

Dayton, Ohio

Noon

Purdue Fort Wayne

4-14, 1-0

Wright State

6-10, 0-1

Purdue Fort Wayne

Wright State

3/17/2023 4:15:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game 1 Box Game 2 Box

DAYTON, Ohio – The Purdue Fort Wayne baseball team opened Horizon League play on Friday (March 17) with a doubleheader at league favorite Wright State. The Mastodons won the opener 12-10 before falling in the night cap 6-2. Ben Higgins had three RBIs in game one and two in game two.

Game One – Mastodons 12, Raiders 10
The 'Dons fell behind 8-2 after three innings but rallied for the victory in the opener.

Rex Stills entered on the mound in the third and gave up three runs but put up three straight zeros after that. That proved key as the 'Dons scored nine runs between the third and sixth innings. Bryce Martens allowed one unearned run in the eighth and got the win. Mac Ayres threw 2.0 innings to get the save.

All told the Mastodons recorded 17 hits with every starter notching a hit. Dylan Stewart, Jacob Walker and Higgins each had three hits.

Walker knocked in two in the fourth on a double to make it an 8-5 game. The 'Dons took a 9-8 lead with three runs in the sixth. Cade Nelis doubled in two runs for the big hit in the inning.

Grant Thoroman and Higgins each knocked in a run in the eighth to put the 'Dons back up 11-9 after Wright State tied the game at nine. Higgins drove in an insurance run in the ninth to make the score 12-10.

Ayres sent the Raiders down in order in the ninth to clinch the victory.

Game Two – Raiders 6, Mastodons 2
Higgins hit a two-run home run in the fourth to make it a 3-2 score after Wright State scored three runs in the first inning.

Jay Luikart had two hits including a double for the Raiders. Wright State starter Sebastian Gongora went the required five innings to get the win. Alex Theis threw 2.2 innings to get the save for Wright State.

Owen Willard allowed two runs in 5.0 innings in relief. Enas Hayden suffered the loss after starting and going an inning.

The 'Dons are 4-15 (1-1 Horizon League). Wright State is 7-10 (1-1 Horizon League). The two teams will conclude the series on Sunday.

~ Feel The Rumble ~

90 Mastodons Earn Horizon League Academic Honor Roll

Wednesday, June 25

Four Picked to CSC Academic All-District Team

Tuesday, June 03

Mastodons Fall to YSU to Conclude 2025 Season

Wednesday, May 21

‘Dons Fall to Milwaukee in First Game of #HLBASE Championship

Wednesday, May 21

Next Event

Wright State

L, 4-13

Mar 19 (Sun)

3 PM

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Full Schedule

Team Stats

Pitching:

W: Martens, Bryce (1-0)

L: Joey Valentine (0-1)

S: Ayres, Mac (1)

Purdue Fort Wayne

Batting:

2B: Walker, Jacob 1 ; Higgins, Ben 1 ; Nelis, Cade 1 ; Tencza, Eli 1

RBI: Walker, Jacob 2 ; Blackford, Braedon 1 ; Higgins, Ben 3 ; Johnson, Caileb 1 ; Nelis, Cade 2 ; Thoroman, Grant 2

SF: Thoroman, Grant 2

Base Running:

RUNS: Walker, Jacob 2 ; Blackford, Braedon 2 ; Higgins, Ben 1 ; Johnson, Caileb 2 ; Nelis, Cade 1 ; Bickel, Jarrett 1 ; Tencza, Eli 1 ; Stewart, Dylan 2