DAYTON, Ohio (Interstat) — Michael Smith drove in three runs and scored three times, Bobby Stang launched a two-run homer and the Dayton Flyers rallied from an early deficit to defeat the Wright State Raiders 9-5 on Wednesday night at Woerner Field.

The Flyers (20-16) erased a five-run hole, tying the game with a three-run fifth inning before pulling away late to sweep the season series from their local rival. The Raiders fell to 17-16.

Wright State struck immediately against Dayton starter Carson Samuels. Leadoff hitter Warren doubled down the right field line, stole third and scored on an RBI single by Holmstrom for a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

The Raiders extended their advantage in the fifth after Samuels departed. Following a walk and a stolen base by Cy Turner, JP Peltier connected for a two-run homer to right center off reliever Heller J, making it 5-2 Wright State.

Samuels finished with a solid line, allowing one run on five hits over four innings, striking out five. His counterpart, Wright State’s J.J. Thompson, was charged with four earned runs over 4 2/3 innings despite not allowing a hit. He walked five and struck out three.

The Flyers’ comeback began in the fifth against Thompson. After Smith walked, Stang crushed a two-run homer to center field to cut the deficit to 5-4. Dyrenson Wouters followed by tying the game with a solo shot to left center, chasing Thompson from the game.

Dayton took the lead for good in the sixth. With two on and one out, Smith doubled to left field, driving in Carpenter G. A relay throw cut down MacDougall D at the plate, but the Flyers led 6-5.

Smith, the game’s top star, delivered the decisive blow in the eighth. With two runners in scoring position, he singled to center off reliever Ashby, driving in two runs to extend the lead to 8-5. Smith, who went 3 for 3 with a walk, has been on a tear, collecting hits in eight of his last nine games. Stang followed with an RBI single to cap the scoring, plating Smith for the final 9-5 margin.

Wright State mounted a final threat in the ninth. After a one-out double by Fultz, Turner hit a two-run homer to right center, his second of the game, to pull the Raiders within four. But Flyers reliever Fortes M settled in, retiring the next two batters to seal the victory.

The Flyers’ bullpen combination of Riley Cahill, Collins L and Fortes M limited Wright State to two runs over the final three innings. For the Raiders, relievers Matthew Johnson and Malachi Paplanus provided scoreless outings in the sixth and seventh, respectively.

Dayton grounded into two double plays, which helped stifle several potential rallies. Both teams finished with 10 hits.

The result defied pregame projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 7-4 Wright State victory and gave the Raiders a 62% probability to win.

Dayton next travels to Richmond for a three-game series starting Friday. Wright State returns home to host Indiana State for a three-game set beginning Friday.