CLEARWATER, Fla. -- In an offensive shootout, the Wayne State University baseball team (4-7) topped Rockhurst (6-8) 18-10 on Tuesday. Wayne State took a one-game break from the RussMatt Invitational to participate in the Clearwater Invitational. After the Hawks scored seven runs in the bottom of the first inning, the Warriors responded with six runs in the top of the second inning to begin the offensive exhibition.
HOW IT HAPPENED- Rockhurst used five hits including a two-run single and two WSU errors to stake themselves to a 7-0 lead after one inning. A three-run triple from
Brad Baldwin (Troy, Mich. / Bishop Foley Catholic) and an RBI triple from
Justin Kelly (Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton Warrenville South) highlighted the six-run outburst from the Warriors in the second inning. WSU completed the comeback to take an 8-6 lead after two runs in the top of the third inning including a sacrifice fly by
Jeremy Carrell (St. Clair, Mich).
Nolan Dill (Bowling Green, Ohio) (1-1) replaced starter
JT Conti (Trenton, Mich.) in the extended first inning and kept RU quiet in the bottom of third inning.
- After an error and a
Cole Clifton (Sterling Heights. Mich. / De La Salle) single,
Aaron Loconsole (Macomb, Mich. / Marine City) sent a single through the left side to plate Kelly. Sean Winkelseth (Ypsilanti, Mich.) perfectly executed a safety squeeze to add another run, giving WSU a 10-7 advantage. A bases-loaded hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the fourth inning allowed the Hawks to creep back within two (10-8) and RU cut the deficit to one with a sac fly RBI later in the frame. A throwing error in the top of the fifth inning returned the deficit to two (11-9) but Rockhurst answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to trail 11-10.
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Griffin Harms (Bingham Farms, Mich. / Birmingham Groves) and Kelly produced runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Dennis Olszewski (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Gabriel Richard) and Carrell did the same in the top of the eighth inning to give the Green & Gold a 15-10 lead. Clifton smacked a triple to right field to score Kelly and Harms and finally complete the scoring for WSU.
LEADING THE WARRIORS- Nine Warriors recorded a hit including a 4-for-5 performance from Harms. He also scored twice and drove in two runs.
- Carrell and Baldwin both drove in three runs, while seven others recorded at least an RBI.
- Seven members of the lineup posted multiple-hit games.
ON THE MOUND- Conti lasted 2/3 of an inning and was replaced by Dill who struck out four in three innings to collect his first collegiate victory.
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Nick Cowen (Tecumseh, Mich.) pitched two 1/3 inning and allowed one run on one hit and two walks.
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Chris Horvath (Lakeshore, Ont.) and
Tyler Tompson (Farmington, Mich.) did not allow a base runner over the final three innings. Horvath set down three batters via the strikeout.
UP NEXT- WSU will play three games against Saint Michael's beginning with a doubleheader on Friday in Auburndale, Fla.
