Youngstown State opened the 2026 Horizon League series with a 5-2 victory over Wright State, pulling ahead in the eighth inning to take a crucial win on the road.
The Raiders had struck first, plating two runs in the bottom of the second, but the Penguins answered with a three-run burst in the eighth that set the stage for a decisive finish.
Key Performances
Braden Gebhardt delivered a solid outing, scattering five hits while striking out nine and walking just one over seven innings, keeping the Youngstown State offense in striking distance.
Reliever Tyler Heflin closed the game with two perfect frames, earning his second save of the season and preserving the lead.
Brady Shannon provided the decisive blow, launching a league-leading 15th home run of the year in the top of the eighth to give the Penguins a 3-2 edge.
Kendal Spencer added insurance with a two-run double in the ninth, extending his hitting streak to 12 games and driving in the final runs that made the score 5-2.
Spencer finished 2-for-4 with three stolen bases, while Nathan Beckley contributed a single, a walk and a run scored, and Garrett Cutting extended his own streak to 12 games with a 2-for-3 effort.
Wright State’s starter Cam Allen was untouched for six scoreless innings, fanning six batters, but the Penguins’ bullpen proved too much in the later frames.
The win improves Youngstown State to 10-12 in league play, while Wright State falls to 17-5 in Horizon League action. Both teams will meet again Friday afternoon, with the Penguins eyeing a series sweep.