DULUTH, MN – After having their Monday series with Minnesota Crookston rained out, the Wayne State College baseball team stayed up north for a Tuesday morning doubleheader.
From Wade Stadium in Duluth, Minnesota, the Wildcats visited Minnesota Duluth.
Minnesota Duluth scored early to win 8-2 in game one and WSC posted a come-from-behind victory in game two, 15-14 in 11 innings. With the split, Wayne State College is now 15-14 (9-7 NSIC) while Minnesota Duluth moved to 14-14 (8-7 NSIC).
During game one, the host Bulldogs poured in three runs during the first inning and outscored WSC, 3-1 in the second to lead 6-1. Following back-to-back scoreless innings, UMD added two more runs in the fifth as Wayne State scored one more run in the sixth. Final favored Minnesota Duluth, 8-2 as the Bulldogs outhit the Wildcats, 11-8 and committed the lone error.
Colin Lynam singled three times and scored twice while Andrew Hanson and Conner Fiene both doubled for WSC. Kyler Essink singled and drove in two runs as Alex Logelin and Chase Douglas both singled.
Brody Sintek (3-3) suffered the loss in an inning and two-thirds allowing six earned runs off seven hits while walking one batter. Ryan Petersen worked two and a third of relief allowing two hits while striking out one batter and hitting one. Cade Herrmann provided two-thirds of relief allowing two earned runs off one hit while walking one batter and hitting two. Nick Oden closed out the final inning and a third allowing one hit while striking out two batters.
In the second game, Minnesota Duluth again scored early with two runs in the second and four more in the third to lead 6-0. After UMD brought in a run during the fifth to increase their lead to 7-0, WSC answered with two runs in the sixth, four in the eighth and one in the top of the ninth to tie the game up at 7-7 and force extras. Both teams scored three runs in the 10th before Wayne State College erupted for five-run 11th inning to lead 15-10. The Bulldogs never let up and came within one run following a four-run 11th. Final favored Wayne State College, 15-14 in 11 innings as both teams finished with 18 hits as Minnesota Duluth committed two errors compared to one from Wayne State.
Andrew Hanson had himself a second game with two singles, two doubles and two triples to go along with six RBI and two runs scored for WSC.
Other extra base hits came from Alex Logelin who singled, doubled, tripled, drove in a run and scored twice; Chris Cornish singled, doubled, drove in a run and scored; Noah Roberts singled, tripled, drove in two runs and scored three times as Colin Lynam singled three times, tripled, drove in a run and scored twice.
Cade Lynam singled, drove in two runs and scored; Travis Baily accounted for a RBI and run scored; Conner Fiene scored twice as Chase Douglas scored.
Wayne State College used six pitchers as Keean Allen (3-1) was pitcher number four and secured the win working a third of an inning allowing four earned runs off three hits while hitting two batters. Ryan Petersen came in for the final inning and was tabbed with the save allowing two hits.
Other pitchers were Ryan Obrecht who started the opening four and a third allowing seven runs (five earned) off eight hits while striking out six batters; Wayne-native Jacob Kneifl worked two and two-thirds allowing two hits and striking out four batters; Josh Renken came in for two and two-thirds allowing three earned runs off three hits while striking out four batters and walking two as Josh Kilzer didn’t record an out and walked one batter.
UMD used nine pitchers in the loss.
The Wayne State College baseball team will continue their road-play at Augustana this weekend. WSC will face Augie at 4/6 p.m. on Friday, April 15 and at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 16.
