CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - The Wayne State University baseball team (34-19) forced a second game on the final day of the 2012 GLIAC Tournament, defeating Grand Valley State University (41-14) in the opener, 4-3.  The Lakers earned a 21-6 victory in game two, however, to claim the tournament title.

After a solo homer by Giancarlo Brugnoni tied the first game in the top of the ninth, Wayne State loaded the bases in the bottom half and Alex Trojan (Fenton, Mich./Hartland) smacked a walkoff single to right to score Kenny Davis (Wyoming, Mich./Lee) for the win.

In game two, Grand Valley State jumped out to a 12-1 lead after two innings on its way to its seventh tournament championship in nine years.

Wayne State will hope to be included in the six-team field for the NCAA Midwest Regional which starts Thursday at a site to be determined.  The selection show will air on Sunday at 10:00 p.m. ET on NCAA.com.


GAME 1: WAYNE STATE 4, GRAND VALLEY STATE 3

Kyle Zimmerman (Frankfort, Mich.) took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, when GVSU totaled four hits and scored twice to tie the game, erasing a 2-0 lead established by Kasey Koster's (Portage, Mich./Central) solo homer in the second and Zimmerman's RBI single in the fourth.

Zach Laupp's bunt single was the first of four straight hits in the sixth for Grand Valley State.  Brian Robinson and Kevin Zak each drove in a run, but the rally ended when Brad Guenther (Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline) caught Zack stealing second.

In the seventh, Guenther walked and went to second on a wild pitch.  After a GVSU error put runners at the corners, a grounder by Trojan brought Guenther home as WSU regained the lead.

Brugnoni's blast to left with one out in the ninth spoiled the save opportunity for Billy Hurley (Mississauga, Ont./St. Aloysius Gonzaga), but Davis led off the bottom half with a double.  Andrew Ciennik (Waterford, Mich./Mott) hit a one-out single, and Kyle Vesey (Brighton, Mich.) was intentionally walked to load the bases for Trojan, who singled through the right side for the walkoff victory.

Hurley (4-1) picked up the win in relief after Zimmerman pitched six strong innings and Brock Bates (Delta, Ohio/Evergreen) allowed just one hit over two frames.  Jacob Cox (3-1) tossed 1.1 innings after Anthony Campanelli surrendered three runs (two earned) on four hits over seven innings.


GAME 2: GRAND VALLEY STATE 21, WAYNE STATE 6

The teams combined for 32 hits in the slugfest to decide the tournament champion.  Davis had two hits for Wayne State as did Phil Swanson (Rochester Hills, Mich./Stoney Creek).  J.J. Ciennik (Waterford, Mich./Mott) finished 1-for-3 with two RBI.

Mike Nadratowski, the GLIAC Freshman of the Year, went 5-for-6 with two RBI and three runs scored.  Brugnoni hit a grand slam and finished with six RBI, while Zak and Steve Anderson totaled three hits apiece and combined for seven RBI and eight runs.

The Lakers also drew 10 walks off six Warrior pitchers.  Starter Kirk Stambaugh (Sylvania, Ohio/Southview) took the loss (1-3) after allowing five runs in the first inning, while Chris Whitney (1-1) allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits over five innings in his third start of the season.


GLIAC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

CATCHER – Cam Wichmann (SV)
FIRST BASE – Giancarlo Brugnoni (GV)
SECOND BASE – Andrew Ciennik (WS)
THIRD BASE – Alex Trojan (WS)
SHORTSTOP – Kevin Zak (GV)
OUTFIELD – Mike Nadratowski (GV), Kasey Koster (WS), Steve Anderson (GV)
DESIGNATED HITTER – Jamie Potts (GV)
PITCHERS – Mike Saunders (SV), Alex Pierse (WS)
MVP – Giancarlo Brugnoni (GV)