DETROIT -- The Wayne State University baseball team (11-6 overall) will open GLIAC play this weekend when it faces Davenport (4-15 overall) on Saturday and Purdue Northwest (8-5 overall) on Sunday. Both doubleheaders will start at 2 p.m. eastern time and be played at the Pride's Dowling Park.
Experiencing a slow start to the 2024 season, Davenport has faced arguably the most difficult schedule in the country. The Panthers' first 19 games have been against the likes of No. 4 Central Missouri (23-4 overall), Illinois Springfield (2023 NCAA Tournament appearance), Quincy (defending regional runner-up), Nova Southeastern (15-9 overall) and No. 17 Ashland (13-2 overall).
Statistically, DU is hitting .263 as a team, an average that is spearheaded by a pair of players in redshirt senior Josh Robinson and senior Anthony Aloisio. Robinson ranks fifth in the conference at .422 (27-for-64) while Aloisio enters this weekend with a clip of .338 (23-for-68). Those two are responsible for nearly a third of all of Davenport's hits.
On the mound, the Panthers' team ERA is up around nine at 8.94. Only three of their pitchers have thrown double-digit innings including junior Carson Fischer with 30.2 (5.28 ERA), junior Jerad Berkenpas with 28.1 (6.04 ERA) and senior Jared Schwartz with 16.0 (6.75 ERA).
As for Purdue Northwest, Wayne State has already faced the Pride this season. In the Warriors' most recent game, a 4-0 win over PNW on March 14 in Auburndale, Fla.,
Griffin Kilander threw a complete-game shutout with just one hit allowed (came in eighth inning), 14 strikeouts and no walks. That defeat stretched Purdue Northwest's losing streak to four games before the Pride were victorious against Minnesota Crookston the next day, 7-5.
PNW hits .254 as a team with senior Luke Montgomery (.396, 19-for-48) and senior Hayden Matulich (.343, 12-for-35) on top. Pitching wise, Purdue Northwest's team ERA is 4.63 with a pair of effective arms in senior Noah Burgh (1.64 ERA, 11 IP) and sophomore Conor Pangburn (1.80 ERA, 10 IP).
