ASHLAND, Ohio - The Wayne State baseball team (12-11, 6-3 GLIAC) fended off a late Ashland rally to preserve a 4-3 victory in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader, securing a sweep of the Eagles (14-11, 6-5 GLIAC).

Ashland pulled to within a run in the bottom of the seventh, but David White (Taylor, Mich./Kennedy) induced a bases-loaded double play to earn his third save of the year, as Wayne State won for the fifth time in six games.

Tyler Loehr (Brighton, Mich.) went five innings and allowed two runs on six hits and a pair of walks. He struck out a season-high six and earned his third win of the season.

Ryan LaPensee (LaSalle, Ont./St. Thomas of Villanova) posted his fifth career four-hit game, and Kyle Vesey (Brighton, Mich.) hit his second homer of the season in the second inning to drive in a pair of runs. 

The Warriors took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI double by Paul LaMantia (Tecumseh, Ont./St. Anne's), but the Eagles quickly erased the advantage with two runs in the bottom half.

After loading the bases in the third on two walks and a hit batter, Loehr struck out the side to maintain Wayne State's 3-2 lead established on Vesey's home run in the second.

In the fourth inning, a base hit by Caleb Dalman (Hudsonville, Mich.) brought in John Skaggs (Adrian, Mich.), making it a 4-2 game.

Evan Melendez and Jacob Petkac started the seventh with consecutive walks. White came on in place of Billy Hurley (Mississauga, Ont./St. Aloysius Gonzaga) and retired Ben Minard, but a single by John Kuzio brought Melendez in to score. A walk to Jason Cress loaded the bases for Ryan Avery, who grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.

Ashland starter Austin Ritson surrendered eight hits and three walks before giving way to Kevin Dunn, who tossed 2.1 scoreless innings.

Wayne State will return home this Friday and Saturday to face Northwood for four games.

NOTES
LaPensee advanced in the Wayne State record books in several categories … with a double in the seventh inning, LaPensee surpassed Tim Baywal (2001-04) for fourth with 37 career doubles … he eclipsed Dave Zelmanski (1975-78) for 10th with 51 extra-base hits … LaPensee's stolen base in the third inning was the 61st of his career, putting him in third place past Gary Devine (1992-94) … White is tied for eighth all-time with five career saves.