Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
 
North Canton, Ohio -- Following its 7-5 Spring Break trip to Florida, Wayne State (10-7, 1-1) took game two on Saturday against Walsh (7-5, 1-1) to split the doubleheader to open GLIAC play.
 
Both teams entered on three-game winning streaks and the Cavaliers took the first ever meeting between the two programs in game one, 4-2.
 
Alex Pierse (2-1) worked six innings and allowed one earned run to lead WSU to the 5-1 game two victory. Wayne State scored five runs in the first two innings, highlighted by Kasey Koster's second home run of the season in the first inning.
 
Game One (L, 2-4)
The Cavaliers struck first with one run on three hits highlighted by an RBI single from Forrest Boggs.
 
Following a single and a sacrifice bunt, Boggs collected his second RBI with a double to right field. Steve Wido singled in another run to give Walsh a 3-0 advantage after three innings. Wayne State starter Ethan Vasiliauskas (2-2) was able to induce an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded to limit the damage.
 
Brad Guenther singled to start the fourth inning and advanced into scoring position after a fielder's choice and stealing third base. However, the Warriors were unable to get on the board as the inning ended with a harmless pop out.
 
Boggs continued his assault with another RBI to give Walsh a 4-0 lead and knock out Vasiliauskas from the game. Taylor Horn replaced the WSU starter and escaped the inning without further damage.
 
The Warriors answered in the fifth inning as Chris Gebara started the frame with a single to center field and advanced to second on an error, to third on a fielder's choice. A balk sent Gebara to the plate and gave Wayne State its first run of the day.
 
Guenther crushed his second home run of the season to right field, bringing the Warriors within two, 4-2, in the top of the sixth.

Jimmy Jackson singled to begin the seventh inning and Jeremy Carrell followed with a walk. Walsh replaced starter Jeff Kotlar (2-0) with Neal Edwards. Following a strikeout, Kenny Davis singled to load the bases. Kotlar finished the game with five strikeouts in his six innings of work, allowing just one earned run on seven hits.
 
The gamed ended with a strikeout on a failed bunt attempt and Guenther's single hitting Davis in between first and second. Edwards picked up his first save of the season.
 
Guenther finished 4-for-4 with an RBI on his home run. Horn worked the final 2.1 innings, allowing just one hit while striking out two.
 
Game Two (W, 5-1)
Koster gave Wayne State a 2-0 lead in the top of the first with a two-run home run to center field. It was the first time the Warriors had scored first since March 13 against Charleston (seven games).
 
Following a walk issued to Kyle Zimmerman in the second inning, Walsh removed its starter, Zach Speer (1-2), in favor of Joe Tann. Wayne State greeted the new Cavalier starter with three RBI doubles from Gebara, Jackson and Sherman to make it 5-0, Warriors.
 
Walsh attempted a comeback in the second inning after a walk and a single but the Warrior catcher, Guenther, gunned down Michael Lee trying to steal third base to end the inning.
 
Sam Fondriest tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly to put the Cavaliers on the board, trailing 5-1, after five innings.
 
Clayton Ruch exited the Wayne State bullpen to replace Pierse in the seventh inning with two runners on and no outs. A walk loaded the bases and brought the game-tying run to the plate in the form of pinch-hitter Jake Palidar.
 
Ruch worked around a no-out, bases-loaded jam to collect his fourth save of the season. 

Wayne State will return to action on Wednesay when Ashland visits for a midweek GLIAC game, scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.

Coach Ryan Kelley's Postgame Thoughts
"Brad Guenther had a great approach today and he was by far our best hitter in game one."

"We need Ethan to be better for us but even though he did not have hist best stuff we were in a position to still the game. That's a good sign but we could not get the job done."

"Obviously, it's always important to score first. It sets the tone for your team and puts pressure on your opponent."