DETROIT -- The Wayne State University baseball team (24-19, 16-10 GLIAC) swept Findlay (14-25, 7-17 GLIAC) on Sunday to win the weekend series three games to four. The three wins come at a critical point as the Warriors are fighting for one of two GLIAC wild card spots with one week of the regular season remaining.
Addison Pawelek (Shelby Twp., Mich. / De La Salle) (3-2) collected his first career complete game to lead the Warriors to a 3-1 game-one victory, while
JT Conti (Trenton, Mich.) (2-1) matched the freshman with his first career complete game to help WSU win game two 2-1.
GAME ONE vs. FINDLAY (W, 3-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Pawelek danced around a leadoff single and a two-out walk to keep the Oilers quiet in the top of the second inning. The freshman right-hander retired the side in order in the top of the third inning and hung zeros in the fourth and fifth innings.
- Three hits and a bases-loaded walk gave Findlay a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth inning.
Sean Winkelseth (Ypsilanti, Mich.) sent a one-out single down the left field line and
Brad Baldwin (Troy, Mich. / Bishop Foley Catholic) followed with a single to right. After a hit-by-pitch, Conti delivered a two-run single into right field, giving WSU a 2-1 advantage.
Justin Kelly (Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton Warrenville South) drew a bases-loaded walk to add WSU's third run of the inning.
- Pawelek returned to the mound in the seventh inning and set down the Oilers in order to secure the 3-1 victory.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
- Winkelseth posted his fourth multiple-hit game of the season, going 2-for-3, while Conti led WSU's offense with two RBI.
ON THE MOUND
- Pawelek struck out six Oilers in seven innings to match his career-high, while allowing an earned run on four hits and four walks.
GAME TWO vs. FINDLAY (W, 2-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams were held scoreless until WSU scored a run on an RBI groundout from Baldwin in the bottom of the third inning. A passed ball later in the inning gave the Green & Gold a 2-0 lead. Conti retired the Oilers in order in the top of the fourth inning to keep the momentum with the Warriors.
- UF's Troy Merriman avoided a tag at second base to lead off the fifth inning with a double. Merriman would later score on a single through the right side to cut the deficit to 2-1.
- Conti allowed four hits the rest of the way but kept the visitors off the board and help WSU win 2-1.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
- Kelly turned in a 2-for-3 performance.
ON THE MOUND
- Conti lowered his ERA from 6.75 to 4.56 with seven innings of one-run baseball and struck out a career-high seven batters.
UP NEXT
- Wayne State concludes the regular-season series against Grand Valley State in Allendale, Mich. on Wednesday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. The games are being made-up after the teams lost a doubleheader in April.
