ASHLAND, Ohio -- After securing a spot in the GLIAC Tournament for the eight consecutive season on Tuesday, the Wayne State University baseball team (21-22-1, 15-14-1 GLIAC) looked to continue its strong play at Ashland (32-14, 21-9 GLIAC) on Saturday. The Eagles held off a late WSU rally in game one to win 12-8 and Ashland won a back-and-forth game two, 10-7.

Game One (L, 8-12)
Ashland scored five runs on four hits in the bottom of the first inning including a three-run double from Ryan Lowe. The Eagles added two runs on three WSU errors in the bottom of the second inning.

Starter Kyle Zimmerman (Frankfort, Mich.) (3-6) was replaced by Jake Davis (Rochester, Mich. / Stoney Creek) on the mound to begin the bottom of the third inning.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Warriors stormed back to cut the deficit to 7-5 with five runs on three hits and two home errors. Griffin Harms (Bingham Farms, Mich. / Birmingham Groves), Aaron Loconsole (Macomb, Mich. / Marine City), Dennis Olszewski (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Gabriel Richard) and Sean Winkelseth (Ypsilanti, Mich.) collected RBIs in the frame.

However, the Eagles responded with four runs on five hits including a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to extend their lead to 11-5. Right-hander Mike Murley (Royal Oak, Mich. / Bishop Foley Catholic) was summoned from the bullpen with one out in the inning.

After an Ashland pitching change, JT Conti (Trenton, Mich.) loaded the bases with a single and Harms trimmed AU's lead to 11-6 with a sacrifice fly to right field to score Cole Clifton (Sterling Heights. Mich. / De La Salle).

The comeback bid continued in the top of the sixth inning for the Warriors. After a walk, a hit-by-pitch and a groundout, a wild pitch allowed Olszewski to score. The Green & Gold were unable to do any more damage and left the bases loaded.

Ashland added a run in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 12-7 lead.

Harms doubled to begin the top of the seventh inning and Olszewski reached via an error. Spencer Church (Windsor, Ont. / Holy Names) drew a pinch-hit walk to load the bases and was replaced by pinch-runner Kevin Moore (Detroit, Mich. / Renaissance). Pinch-hitter Travis Rodery (Wyandotte, Mich. / Roosevelt) grounded out to second base to plate a run and cut the AU lead to 12-8. However, a strikeout ended the rally and the game.

Murley pitched the final two 2/3 innings and allowed one unearned run while striking out two.

Game Two (L, 7-10)
Bradley Baldwin (Troy, Mich. / Bishop Foley Catholic) sent a two-run home run over the wall in right center to give WSU a 2-0 advantage in the top of the first inning.

Ashland scored six runs on six hits in the bottom of the first inning including four doubles.

Olszewski walked to lead off the second inning, advanced to second on a wild pitch and went to third on a bunt single from Devin Rose (Farmington Hills, Mich. / Orchard Lake St. Mary's). A  4-6-3 double play allowed Olszewski to score and trim deficit to 6-3. A bases-clearing double from Zimmerman tied the game at 6-6.

Starter Jared Tobey (St. Clair, Mich.) settled in and did not allow a run in the second, third or fourth innings.

A sacrifice bunt and an RBI from Austin Walts gave the Eagles a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning.

After a double from Rose, Loconsole's RBI single into right tied the game at 7-7 in the top of the sixth inning. 

Ashland regained the lead with an RBI single into center field in the bottom of the seventh inning. In the bottom of the eighth inning, AU added two runs to extend its lead to 10-7.

The first two batters for Wayne State reached to begin the ninth inning but the next three were retired to give the Eagles a Saturday sweep.

Conti (0-1) was saddled with the loss after he pitched two 1/3 innings and allowed two earned runs on three hits.

The Warriors will wrap up the regular season on Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 PM.