Wright State, Valparaiso to play for baseball championship after UIC, Youngstown State eliminated on Day three

DAYTON, Ohio – Wright State and Valparaiso advance to the championship and UIC and Youngstown State were eliminated on day three of the Horizon League Baseball Championship, played at Nischwitz Stadium.

The Raiders and Crusaders will play for the title on Sunday at 11am ET.  If Valpo beats WSU in the first game than the two teams will play again in the “if necessary” game, scheduled for 3pm.

Game 7: (6) Youngstown State 12, (2) UIC 7

Youngstown State jumped to an early lead, scoring eight runs in the first three innings against UIC.  Four runs by the Flames in the bottom of the third cut the lead by half, making it 8-4 after a bases loaded walk and a two-run double by Joe Betcher.  UIC scored three more in the fourth, cutting the deficit to just one.

It wasn’t enough though as the Penguins added an insurance run in the seventh and three more in the top of the ninth to secure the victory. YSU advanced to the final game of the consolation bracket.

Game 8: (1) Wright State 4, (4) Valparaiso 3

Wright State took a 3-0 lead over Valparaiso in the second inning after an RBI ground out from Justin Kopale and a Sam Picchiotti two-run single.

Valpo tied the game in the fifth.  A two-run single by Andrew Bain brought the Crusaders within one and a single to left field by Robbie Robinson plated Bain to make it 3-3.

Wright State quickly answered back in the fifth.  Dan Marsh led off with a double and scored on Corey Davis’ two-out single, with what proved to be the winning run for a final score of 4-3.

Game 9: (4) Valparaiso 8, (6) Youngstown State 6

Youngstown State was up 3-0 after the top of the third, and led 6-5 after the top of the seventh, but ended up falling to Valparaiso, 8-6, in the final elimination game on Saturday.

Neil Schroth and Joe Lacobucci scored for the Penguins in the first inning off of two Valpo errors.  Schroth then hit a one-out double in the third and scored on Iacobucci's two-out RBI single to right to give the Penguins a 3-0 lead.

Valpo answered back in the bottom of the third as Will Hagel drove in the first two runs with a bases-loaded single to right, and Kyle Gaedele followed with a two-run double to right center to give Valpo its first lead at 4-3.

YSU reclaimed the lead in the seventh inning scoring two runs, but once again Valpo had an answer as the Crusaders took the final lead and eventually the win after scoring three in the bottom of the seventh to make a final 8-6.