CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - Sophomore left fielder Brad Guenther's (Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline) walk-off three-run double in the bottom of the 12th inning capped off a wild 7-6 victory for Wayne State University (31-17) over Ashland University (30-20) in the first round of the GLIAC Baseball Tournament.

After a 45-minute lightning delay put the game on hold at a critical point in the 12th inning, it took just three more pitches when play resumed to decide a winner. #C.J. Maszal# (Allen Park, Mich.), who had a full count in a lengthy at-bat when play was halted, drew a walk to load the bases for Guenther, who laced a double to left center.

Andrew Pinkleman took the loss (1-2) in relief of Ajay Meyer, as the GLIAC Pitcher of the Year went 11 innings and threw 143 pitches.

Wayne State will turn around to face Grand Valley State tomorrow at noon, while Ashland and Saginaw Valley State will meet in an elimination game at 3:00.

Meyer took a no-hitter into the fifth inning when WSU erased the first of three deficits in the game. Down 3-0, the Warriors tied the score with three runs on four hits and with the help of two AU errors. Maszal's two-run single was the highlight of the inning for Wayne State.

Neither starter Brett Shankin (Washington, Mich./Romeo) nor Meyer surrendered another run in the game. Despite allowing 12 hits, Shankin gave up just three runs and a walk with five strikeouts before Alex Pierse (Clinton Twp., Mich./De La Salle) pitched a scoreless inning in relief.

Ashland had an opportunity to take the lead in the top of the ninth as Evan Melendez tripled to center, but was cut down at home on a bouncer to Alex Trojan (Fenton, Mich./Hartland). Later in the inning, Billy Hurley (Mississauga, Ont./St. Aloysius Gonzaga) came on to strike out Ryan Avery to end the frame.

In the 11th, Klein made it to second base on a dropped fly ball, and subsequent sacrifice bunts by Matt McAllester and Melendez produced an unearned run. Guenther led off the bottom half with a walk, however, and scored following base hits from Andrew Ciennik (Waterford, Mich./Mott) and Michael Wiseman (White Lake, Mich.).

After walks to Austin Erb and Ethan Houck in the 12th, a pinch-hit double by Michael Manser put the Eagles ahead, 6-4.

The bottom half started with Caleb Dalman (Hudsonville, Mich.) reaching on an error. Phil Swanson (Rochester Hills, Mich./Stoney Creek) singled up the middle to set up Maszal for his long at-bat which stretched through the lightning delay.

Guenther's bases-clearing double earned WSU its fourth straight GLIAC Tournament victory dating back to last season. Despite allowing three runs (two earned) after giving up only two runs all season previously, Hurley picked up his fourth relief victory of the year. He only surrendered one hit and struck out three over 3.1 innings.