BOXSCORES:  GAME 1  |  GAME 2

DETROIT - Playing at home for the first time this season, the Wayne State University baseball team (14-6, 6-2 GLIAC) split a doubleheader with Tiffin University (6-15, 3-4 GLIAC) on Saturday afternoon to open a four-game weekend series.

The Dragons shut out the Warriors, 12-0, in the first game as TU's Donnie Smith tossed a one-hitter. Wayne State came from behind to defeat Tiffin, 8-5, in the second game.

Sunday's doubleheader between Wayne State and Tiffin is scheduled to begin at noon.


GAME ONE: TIFFIN 12, WAYNE STATE 0

Smith walked three and struck out five as the Dragons handed the Warriors their first shutout loss at home since 2005.

Tiffin jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first and added five more runs in the third inning. Pat Curtin and Carlos Garcia each smacked a two-run triple in the third.

The Dragons increased their lead to 11-0 in the fourth on an RBI single by Zach McCutheon and an RBI double by Curtin.

Andrew Ciennik (Waterford, Mich./Mott) broke up Smith's no-hit bid with a two-out single in the fifth. Subsequent walks to Chris Gebara (Troy, Mich.) and Phil Swanson (Rochester Hills, Mich./Stoney Creek) loaded the bases before Smith closed out the inning.

Tiffin racked up 14 hits, led by Michael Dushane and Val Helldobler with three each.

Tyler Loehr (Brighton, Mich.) took the loss, allowing eight runs (six earned) on eight hits in 2.2 innings. Jeff Sorenson (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson), one of three relief pitchers used in the game, worked an effective 2.1 innings, surrendering just one hit and one walk with three strikeouts.


GAME TWO: WAYNE STATE 8, TIFFIN 5

While Wayne State's 4-0 lead soon turned into a 5-4 deficit, the Warriors went ahead again with a four-run sixth inning. Brad Guenther's (Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline) RBI doubled tied the score, and Michael Wiseman (White Lake, Mich./Lakeland) brought in the go-ahead run with a base hit. Alex Trojan's (Fenton, Mich./Hartland) two-run single gave the Warriors some breathing room.

Guenther, Wiseman and #C.J. Maszal# (Allen Park, Mich.) all had two hits apiece in the victory. Maszal also scored three times.

Billy Hurley (Mississauga, Ont./St. Aloysius Gonzaga) earned his second win of the season, tossing two scoreless innings in relief of Brett Shankin (Washington, Mich./Romeo), who allowed five runs (three earned) on four hits but matched his career-high with nine strikeouts.

The Warriors had just one hit in the first inning but were able to score three times, aided by a wild pitch, a hit batter and two walks. Maszal scored on a balk in the second inning to put WSU ahead by four.

Tiffin cut the deficit to 4-3 on a three-run homer by Cory Osborne in the top of the fourth. McCutcheon scored on a sacrifice fly by Curtin to tie it in the fifth, and an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Helldobler put the Dragons ahead in the sixth.

After the Warriors regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth, the Dragons threatened with runners at first and second with one out. Hurley sent down the last two hitters, sealing the win by striking out Osborne.


NOTES
Shankin also struck out nine in his first win of the 2009 season March 6 at Drury … Maszal continues to lead WSU in most offensive categories, including batting average (.443), slugging percentage (.738) and on-base percentage (.547) … Wayne State's last home shutout loss before Saturday was March 26, 2005 against Madonna (3-0).