DETROIT -- The Wayne State University baseball program (18-9, 8-2 GLIAC) took two close games from Ashland (12-18, 5-9 GLIAC) on Saturday at WSU Baseball Field.  Behind a strong pitching performance from Chris Horvath (Lakeshore, Ont.) (5-1), the Warriors won the series opener 2-0 and the Green & Gold held on for a 6-5 victory in game two.

GAME ONE (W, 2-0)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams were quiet until Justin Sherman (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Pioneer) broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning with an RBI single through the left side to plate Justin Kelly (Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton Warrenville South) who doubled to begin the inning.  Ryan Mergener (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Portage Central) doubled home Brad Baldwin (Troy, Mich. / Bishop Foley Catholic) after he walked. 

- A leadoff walk and a WSU fielding error allowed AU to bring the go-ahead run to the plate in the top of the seventh inning.  However, Taylor Horn (Leo, Ind.) was able to retire the next three hitters to secure the game one triumph.

AT THE PLATE
- Mergener led the offense, going 3-for-3 with an RBI.

ON THE MOUND
- Horvath struck out seven over six innings and he did not allow a run on two hits.  He took a no-hitter into the fifth inning.  Horn collected his sixth save of the season, closing out the game in the seventh inning.

GAME TWO (W, 6-5)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Baldwin gave WSU an early 1-0 lead with an RBI double in the bottom of the first inning.  AU tied the game at 1-1 with an RBI double of its own in the top of the second inning.  WSU scored three runs on four hits in the bottom of the second inning to take a 4-1 advantage.  Sherman started the scoring with an RBI single and Baldwin added a two-run single to his day.

- A two-run laser from Carsten Dembeck just stayed fair down the right field line and brought AU within a tally at 4-3 in the top of the third inning.  The Eagles tied the game at 4-4 with an RBI single in the top of the fifth inning.

- WSU responded with two runs on four hits in the bottom of the fifth inning.  Baldwin sent a solo home run to straight away center to break the tie and Griffin Harms (Bingham Farms, Mich. / Birmingham Groves) gave WSU a 6-4 lead with an RBI double to left field.  Ashland trimmed the deficit to one with a pinch-hit RBI single in the top of the seventh inning.  Tyler Tompson (Farmington, Mich.) set down the Eagles in order for his fifth save of the season.

AT THE PLATE
- Baldwin turned in a 3-for-4 performance with four RBI, while Jeremy Carrell (St. Clair, Mich.), Harms, Patrick Adams (Detroit, Mich. / De La Salle) and Sherman all posted two hits each.

ON THE MOUND
- Hunter Brown (St. Clair, Mich. / Lakeview) started but lasted just two and 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks.  Brendan Wetmore (Westland, Mich. / John Glenn) (2-0) was solid out of the bullpen, pitching four and 1/3 innings and struck out three batters, while allowing two earned runs.  Nolan Dill (Bowling Green, Ohio) tossed the next inning and 1/2 and did not allow a run.  Tompson was perfect in the ninth inning.

UP NEXT
- The Warriors and Eagles conclude the four-game series on Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at noon.