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EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- The Wayne State University baseball team (36-15) used a gem from junior Kyle Zimmerman (Frankfort, Mich.) (8-2) and solid defense to edge #18 Drury (41-12) 1-0 in Thursday's opening round of the NCAA Midwest Regional in Evansville, Ind. The Warriors advance to face #17 Grand Valley State (38-11) on Friday night at 7 PM.

The win was the team's first over a nationally-ranked program this season and also gives WSU a program high 36 wins, topping the 2011 squad's 35 victories. WSU snapped Drury's eight-game winning streak and shutout the Panthers for just the second time this season.

Zimmerman was every bit of the First Team All-GLIAC pitcher on Thursday. The third-seeded Panthers led off the bottom of the first inning with a single but WSU executed defensively on two sacrifice bunts and Zimmerman induced the next batter to fly out to center field.

A Drury fielding and throwing error allowed Cole Clifton (Sterling Heights. Mich. / De La Salle) to advance to second with one out in the top of the third inning. Clifton moved to third base on a wild pitch, sliding in under the tag. Following a walk, Jeremy Carrell (St. Clair, Mich.) delivered the only run the Warriors would need with a sacrifice fly to left field.

Drury collected a two-out double in the bottom of the third inning but nothing would come of the threat. The GLVC Champions advanced a runner to third base in the bottom of the sixth inning but a groundout to shortstop and an excellent scoop from Zach Johnson (Grandville, Mich.) at first base kept WSU ahead 1-0.

The Panthers put two runners on in the bottom of the seventh inning but Zimmerman recorded a strikeout to end the frame.

The Green & Gold threatened in the top of the eighth inning with runners at the corners but Drury kept the deficit at one with a inning-ending strikeout.

Zimmerman retired the first batter of the eighth inning on a strikeout looking before plunking the next batter and allowing the runner to advance to second on a wild pitch. Clayton Ruch (Pemberville, Ohio / Eastwood) entered after a walk and was able to get a 5-3 double play from Cameron Walker (Clinton Twp., Mich. / De La Salle) to Johnson to end the inning.

Despite a leadoff single for Drury in the bottom of the ninth inning, Ruch was able to retire the next three hitters to collect his 15th save of the season and seal the victory for the Warriors.

Zimmerman went 7 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts, allowing just five hits to a team that entered hitting .343.

WSU will face second-seeded GVSU at 7 PM and will be the home team. The Lakers advanced with a 9-4 win over Lake Erie in game one of the day.