DETROIT -- The Wayne State University baseball team (11-13 overall, 2-6 GLIAC) had its sights set on salvaging the series with Ashland (12-9 overall, 4-4 GLIAC) on Saturday but dropped the day's first game 10-9, which was a resumption of Thursday's series opener after that contest was suspended in the fifth inning. WSU won game two, 8-3, avoiding the sweep.
GAME ONE (L, 9-10)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- On Thursday, the Warriors jumped out to a 3-0 lead powered by RBI from
JT Conti (Trenton, Mich.) and
Brad Baldwin (Troy, Mich. / Bishop Foley Catholic) plus a run when
Troy Daring Jr. stole home. The heavy rains came in the fifth inning and game officials decided to suspend the game.
- The Eagles continued the momentum gained from Friday's doubleheader sweep and scored three runs on two hits to tie the game in the top of the sixth inning. Two of the runs came on a home run down the right field line from Connor Barleben.
Patrick Adams (Detroit, Mich. / De La Salle) sent an opposite field solo home run over the "Green Monster" in left field to give WSU a 4-3 advantage.
- AU responded with a two-run blast in the top of the seventh inning to regain the lead 5-4 but the Green & Gold tied the game with a sacrifice fly from
Justin Kelly (Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton Warrenville South) in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Eagles broke the game open in the top of the eighth inning with five runs on five hits, including a two-run home run.
- Wayne State made it interesting in the bottom of the ninth inning, scoring four runs on three hits. Kelly singled home the inning's first run before a passed ball plated another run. Adams doubled off the left field wall to trim the deficit to one, 10-9.
Devin Rose (Farmington Hills, Mich. / Orchard Lake St. Mary's) came to the plate, representing the winning run and grounded into a fielder's choice to end the game.
AT THE PLATE
- Adams went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Conti posted a 2-for-4 game. Kelly accounted for two of WSU's runs.
ON THE MOUND
-
Josh Nelson (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Saline) returned to the mound after the extended delay and allowed three earned runs over six innings, while striking out five batters.
Taylor Horn (Leo, Ind.) (1-2) worked the final three frames and allowed seven earned runs on eight hits.
GAME TWO (W, 8-3)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- It appeared that game four would be similar to the first three when AU scored a run on a passed ball in the top of the first inning but the Warriors answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning on a towering three-run home run from Kelly. A fielding error in the bottom of the second inning gave WSU a 4-1 lead.
- In what was nearly an hour-long half-inning as both teams employed strategy in case the rainy conditions caused the game to be delayed or determined to be a final result, WSU scored a run on two hits to extend its lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning.
- The Eagles collected a run with a sac fly in the top of the sixth inning and pulled within three in the eighth inning with a run on an RBI single. Baldwin doubled home a run in the bottom of the eighth inning and RBI from Kelly and
Jacob Finkbeiner (Saline, Mich.) pushed the home lead to 8-3.
Hunter Brown (St. Clair Shores, Mich. / Lakeview) struck out the side in the top of the ninth inning to seal the victory.
AT THE PLATE
- Both Baldwin and Rose tallied two-hit games, while Kelly powered the offense driving in four runs.
ON THE MOUND
-
Nolan Dill (Bowling Green, Ohio) started and was effective in his three innings of work, striking out six batters and allowing an unearned run.
Addison Pawelek (Shelby Twp., Mich. / De La Salle) (1-2) allowed two earned runs in five innings but struck out a career-high nine batters before Brown worked a perfect ninth inning.
UP NEXT
- The quick five-game home stand concludes on Tuesday with a 3:00 p.m. contest against Urbana.