HAMMOND, Ind. -- The Wayne State University baseball team (12-13 overall, 3-6 GLIAC) made its first-ever trip to Purdue Northwest (9-11 overall, 2-7 GLIAC) on Friday and the Warriors used 15 hits, including six extra-base hits to win 12-1. Starter
Jared Tobey (St. Clair, Mich.) (4-1) was sharp, allowing an earned run over six innings, while striking out eight batters.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Warriors loaded the bases in the top of the second inning with a throwing error, a
Michael MacLean (Bloomfield Hills, Mich. / Country Day) single and a walk to
Patrick Adams (Detroit, Mich. / De La Salle) but nothing would come of the threat. Purdue Northwest put a runner at third after an infield single, sacrifice bunt and runner tagging up on a long fly out but Tobey was able to strikeout the next hitter to keep the game scoreless.
- Solo home runs from
Brad Baldwin (Troy, Mich. / Bishop Foley Catholic) and
JT Conti (Trenton, Mich.) in the top of the third inning gave the Green & Gold a 2-0 lead.
Jacob Finkbeiner (Saline, Mich.) extended WSU's lead to 4-0 with a two-run single in the top of fourth inning. PNW got on the scoreboard with a run on two hits in the bottom of the fifth inning.
- WSU broke the game open with six runs on five hits and an error in the top of the sixth inning to stretch the advantage to 10-1.
Justin Kelly (Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton Warrenville South) began the scoring with an RBI double to right center and
Ryan Mergener (Portage, Mich. / Portage Central) followed with another RBI double down the left field line.
Tristen Jorah (Clinton Twp., Mich. / Sterling Heights Stevenson), MacLean and
Devin Rose (Farmington Hills, Mich. / Orchard Lake St. Mary's) also collected RBI during the rally.
- After a walk to pinch-hitter
Zach Girard (Sleepy Hollow, Ill. / Dundee Crown), Finkbeiner tripled down the right field line and pinch-hitter
Troy Saruna (Farmington Hills, Mich. / Bloomfield Hills) followed with an RBI groundout to give the visitors a 12-1 lead.
Jack Schmidt (Fishers, Ind. / Indianapolis Cathedral) pitched the final three innings and did not allow a run, ending the contest with a line drive double play to second base.
AT THE PLATE
- Baldwin and MacLean both tallied three hits, while Finkbeiner finished with a game-high three RBI.
ON THE MOUND
- Tobey lowered his season ERA to 2.23 with his six innings of one-run baseball, which ranks second in the league. Schmidt earned his first career save as he did not allow a run over his three innings of work.
UP NEXT
- The series with the Pride continues on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. eastern. Game one will be
Ryan Kelley's 500th contest as head coach at Wayne State.