COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Wayne State University baseball team (16-9, 6-2 GLIAC) concluded the season series with Ohio Dominican (13-10, 4-4 GLIAC) on Wednesday with a pair of victories. The Warriors scored five runs in the fourth inning of game one on their way to an 8-5 win and the offense continued to click in game two as WSU was victorious, 8-6. The two wins gives Wayne State a season sweep of the Ohio Dominican in the four matchups and WSU's .750 winning percentage in league games is tied for the best in the league.
GAME ONE (W, 8-5)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Panthers scored first with a run of the day with two hits in the bottom of the first inning. WSU answered with a pair of runs on two hits and an ODU fielding error in the top of the second inning.
Justin Kelly (Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton Warrenville South) doubled to left center to begin the inning and advanced to third on a bunt single from
Patrick Adams III (Detroit, Mich. / De La Salle).
Tristen Jorah (Clinton Twp., Mich. / Sterling Heights Stevenson) reached on the error, allowing two runs to score.
- The first two batters of the fourth inning reached as Adams singled up the middle and
Griffin Harms (Bingham Farms, Mich. / Birmingham Groves) sent a double down the left field line. Jorah dropped down a sacrifice bunt and notched his second RBI of the game to give WSU a 3-1 advantage. A
Devin Rose (Farmington Hills, Mich. / Orchard Lake St. Mary's) single loaded the bases and knocked ODU's starter out of the game.
Sean Winkelseth (Ypsilanti, Mich.) extended WSU's lead to 5-1 with a two-run single to right field. The rally continued as
Brad Baldwin (Troy, Mich. / Bishop Foley Catholic) doubled to left center for the fourth run of the frame and
Ryan Mergener (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Portage Central) plated WSU's seventh run with a sacrifice fly to right field.
- ODU's Lee Sponseller sent a two-run home run over the wall in right field to cut the deficit to 7-3. Starter
Addison Pawelek (Shelby Twp., Mich. / De La Salle) (2-2) was able to strand two runners and limit the damage.
Justin Sherman (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Pioneer) singled to start the sixth inning, stole second and advance to third on a wild pitch. Baldwin sent a single up the middle to plate Sherman to stretch WSU's lead to 8-3. The Panthers loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth inning and
Taylor Horn (Leo, Ind.) entered to attempt to keep the five-run lead intact. A two-run double pulled ODU within three runs, 8-5 but Horn stranded the bases loaded and he retired the Panthers in order in the seventh to collect his fifth save of the season.
AT THE PLATE
- Winkelseth, Baldwin and Jorah all drove in a pair of runs, while Baldwin went 3-for-4.
ON THE MOUND
- Pawelek allowed five earned runs on eight hits and two walks, while striking out four batters. Horn continued his outstanding season, pitching two scoreless innings lowering his ERA to 1.16.
GAME TWO (W, 8-6)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Rose led off game two with a single into left field and stole second base. He later scored on an RBI single from Baldwin. Following a double from Mergener, Adams drove in a pair of runs with a double to center, giving WSU a 3-0 advantage. Three straight hits for the Panthers, including back-to-back doubles netted two runs in the bottom of the first inning. A double play helped starter
Josh Nelson (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Saline) limit the damage to two runs.
- Ohio Dominican tied the game at 3-3 with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second inning and Wayne State responded quickly with a sac fly of its own to regain the lead. The back-and-forth affair continued as the Panthers tied the game at 4-4 with a leadoff home run in the third inning. Jorah singled through the left side to start the fourth inning and later scored on an ODU error to give the Warriors a 5-4 lead.
- Mergener created breathing room for WSU with a two-run single in the top of the sixth inning to put WSU ahead 7-4. A two-out rally by ODU in the bottom of the seventh produced a run on three hits to cut Wayne State's lead to 7-5. Mergener's excellent day continued in the ninth inning when he doubled to left, stole third and then scored on a throwing error on the same play. ODU collected a late run but that would be it as WSU won for the eighth time in the last 10 games.
AT THE PLATE
- Mergener notched the third four-hit game of the season for WSU, going 4-for-5 with two RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Baldwin turned in a 3-for-4 performance with an RBI and a run scored.
ON THE MOUND
- Nelson allowed four earned runs on five hits in two and 1/3 innings.
Brendan Wetmore (Westland, Mich. / John Glenn) (1-0) earned the victory pitching four and a 1/3 innings, allowing an earned run on four hits, while striking out three.
Nolan Dill (Bowling Green, Ohio) tossed an inning and 2/3 before
Tyler Tompson (Farmington, Mich.) posted his fourth save of the season by collecting the final two outs.
UP NEXT
- The Warriors will start a 10-game home stand beginning with a four-game series against Ashland on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
