DETROIT -- The Wayne State University baseball team (7-1 overall) will carry its hot start to the season into The Queen City on Friday through Sunday to take on in-region foe Findlay (4-4 overall). The Warriors and Oilers will open the series with a 2 p.m. first pitch on Friday, Saturday's doubleheader will begin at 12 p.m. and the finale will commence at noon as well.
The Week Ahead
After sweeping Tiffin in Cincinnati at UC Baseball Stadium on opening week, Wayne State won three of four against Lewis at USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn. Now, the Warriors will head back to Cincy, this time at Xavier University's Hayden Field, for a third in-region series in as many weeks.
Looking Back
Recapping the three days of contests last weekend, Wayne State won games one, three and four thanks to scores of 10-5, 8-4 and 6-4, respectively. Lewis salvaged one victory in the series, 4-1 in game one of Saturday's double dip.
All-Time Series
As former GLIAC foes, Wayne State and Findlay have faced off 79 times in the all-time series. Of those 79 meetings, the Warriors have fared well with a 54-25 record, good for a .684 winning percentage. WSU head coach
Ryan Kelley has done even better in his own right, as he's gone 33-7 (.825 winning percentage) against UF, but the upcoming series will mark the two teams' first ever neutral affairs.
Leading the Way
Eight games in, Wayne State (.310 team batting average) continues to boast a quintet of players hitting above the .300 mark, and even .345. That group of five includes
Rhett Roeser (New Baltimore, Mich. / Warren De La Salle) at .643,
Drew Hill (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. / Grosse Pointe North) at .500,
Gabe Zeldes (West Bloomfield, Mich. / Detroit Country Day) at .400,
Tony Hatzigeorgiou (Oxford, Mich.) at .375, and
Bennett Hitzelberger (Richmond, Mich.) at .345.
Hitzelberger has racked up 12 runs scored,
Owen Tuccinardi (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Skyline) has clubbed three home runs while driving in 13 with 20 stolen bases, Roeser is slugging .857 and owns an on-base percentage of .706. As a team, the Warriors have drawn 45 walks, the most of which have come from Hill with eight. Hitzelberger has attempted five stolen bases and been successful four times.
On the mound, Wayne State holds a team ERA of 3.14.
Will Lowery (Grosse Ile, Mich. [Kalamazoo Valley C.C.]) leads the way in innings pitched with 10 along with a 2.70 ERA, but is one of three Warriors already with a 2-0 win-loss record. The other two are relievers
Nick Baker (Brighton, Mich. [Lansing C.C.]) and
Philip Miller (Flat Rock, Mich. / Woodhaven [Schoolcraft C.C. / Tusculum]).
Gabe Nazelli (Farmington Hills, Mich. / Detroit Country Day) has a 0.93 ERA through 9.2 frames with nine strikeouts, just as many punchouts as P. Miller. Going back to Lowery, opposing batters are hitting just .211 against him.
Scouting Findlay
Coached by fifth-year leader Matt Palm (106-106 record at Findlay), the Oilers come into this series at 4-4 overall. UF took one of three against 20th-ranked Seton Hill, lost to Wingate, and won three of four at McKendree.
Starting at the plate, Findlay's .290 team batting average is bolstered by a trio of regulars in Casey Maruniak (.400), Mason Myers (.370) and Keelan Daniel (.353). More specifically, the Oilers' team leaders include Maruniak (OPS, runs, hits, doubles, total bases, SLG, stolen bases), Gavyn Smith (home runs, RBI), Luke Senften (home runs), and Daniel (walks, OBP).
David Jimenez (5.06 ERA) has thrown the most innings on the team with 10.2, but the best ERA from a regular belongs to Colin Becker at 1.13 through eight frames. Both of those pitchers have struck out 14 batters while opposing batters are hitting just .220 against Jimenez. Becker is 2-0 while both Jimenez and Connor Evanich are each 1-0.
Up Next
Wayne State will head to Florida for the annual RussMatt Invitational on March 9-14 for six games in six days. During their stay in The Sunshine State, the Warriors will face Minnesota State-Mankato, St. Cloud State, Winona State, Minnesota Duluth, Northern State, and California (Pa.).
