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Ypsilanti, Mich. -- Second seed Wayne State University (32-16, 21-10) trailed 7-3 to fifth seed Saginaw Valley State (16-23, 14-14) in the third inning on Wednesday but a five-run fourth inning and solid bullpen work allowed the Warriors to comeback and advance to the second round of the 2013 GLIAC Tournament with a 9-7 victory.
 
Ethan Vasiliauskas (South Rockwood, Mich. / Carleton Airport) lasted just 2.2 innings and was touched up for six earned runs on nine hits.
 
SVSU struck first with a run in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly from Kyle O'Boyle.
 
WSU answered with two runs in the bottom of the first inning as Brad Guenther (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Saline) singled to right center and then stole second and third before Kasey Koster (Portage, Mich. / Central) gave the Warriors the lead with a RBI-single to right field.
 
The Cardinals regained the lead with two runs in the top of the second on three hits.
 
Jeremy Carrell (St. Clair, Mich.) delivered a RBI-single in the bottom of the second to tie game at 3-3.
 
The offensive display continued as SVSU took a 7-3 lead with four runs in the top of third inning. Brandyn Hall (Sylvania, Ohio / Northview) (4-2) replaced Vasiliauskas with two outs in the inning.
 
The Green & Gold loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth inning. Carrell delivered a RBI-single to right and the Warriors were able to score a second run on the play due to a SVSU throwing error to cut the deficit to 7-5.
 
Guenther drove in a run on a groundout and Koster tied the game, 7-7, with a RBI-single through the right side. A wild pitch allowed Koster to score and give WSU an 8-7 advantage as Cameron Walker (Clinton Township, Mich. / De La Salle) was caught in a rundown to end the inning.
 
Chris Gebara (Troy, Mich.) extended the Warriors' lead to 9-7 with a RBI-single to right field in the bottom of the sixth inning.
 
Greg Spiess (Saline, Mich.) was called upon to end a SVSU threat in the top of the eighth inning and did just that, striking out the two hitters he faced.
 
Clayton Ruch (Pemberville, Ohio / Eastwood) recorded the final three outs of the game for his 10th save of the season.
 
Carrell, Guenther and Koster all drove in two runs. Hall went 4.1 innings and did not allow a run with two strikeouts.
 
The Warriors will now play the winner of Ohio Dominican and Ashland on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.