POST-GAME INTERVIEW

NORMAL, Ill. - The Wayne State University baseball team (33-20) earned a crucial 5-4 victory over the University of Southern Indiana (37-19) on Friday afternoon, eliminating the defending NCAA Division II champion to remain in the 2011 Midwest Regional.

#J.J. Ciennik#'s (Waterford, Mich./Mott) pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the eighth inning provided the go-ahead run, and Billy Hurley (Mississauga, Ont./St. Aloysius Gonzaga) came on in the ninth to record his eighth save of the year.

Friday's meeting between Wayne State and USI was back and forth, as WSU scored twice in the fifth to tie it at 2-2, and took a 4-2 lead in the sixth which was erased in the next half inning. Ultimately, the Warriors were able to avenge a loss to USI which sent WSU home from the 2010 regional.

The Screaming Eagles totaled 14 hits against three WSU pitchers but stranded 12 runners. The Warriors, despite just five hits, benefitted from six walks and two hit batters.

Tyler Loehr (Brighton, Mich.) went seven innings and scattered 10 hits, allowing just two earned runs. He did not walk a batter, struck out five and worked out of several jams to keep WSU in position to win.

Brad Vance, one of five Screaming Eagles with more than one hit, had three RBI including one on a base hit in the third. USI doubled its lead as Jarrod Rose scored in the fourth on a two-out error.

Ryan Buter (North Muskegon, Mich.) tied the game with a two-run homer in the fifth inning, his fifth home run of the season, and it may have been the turning point of the game. Kyle Vesey (Brighton, Mich.) drew a bases loaded walk, and Alex Trojan (Fenton, Mich./Hartland) singled in a run to put the Warriors ahead, 4-2, in the sixth.

USI came right back in the seventh as Vance drove home a pair with a base hit.

Back-to-back one-out singles by Andrew Ciennik (Waterford, Mich./Mott) and Vesey, followed by a walk to Trojan, set up J.J. Ciennik for the key RBI chance in the eighth.

Josh Wedesky (Fowlerville, Mich.) picked up the win in relief (9-2) while Mark Walther, the third of four USI pitchers used, took the loss (0-2). Taylor Dennis, an All-GLVC Second Team selection, was lifted after allowing four runs and four walks in 5.1 innings.

Wayne State will play Saturday at 3:30 p.m. CT against an opponent to be determined.


NOTES
Michael Wiseman (White Lake, Mich./Lakeland) singled in the fourth, extending his hitting streak to 10 games, the longest by a Warrior this season … the streak also ties Wiseman's career-best … Caleb Dalman (Hudsonville, Mich.) was hit by a pitch in the sixth inning, reaching base for the 16th straight game … he also tied his own single-season record in the hit by pitch category (14) … Wayne State earned its first NCAA Regional win since 2008 … the Warriors surpassed their 2010 overall win total and are one shy of the program record.