April 25, 2009
Game 1 - #25 Wayne State 9 Minnesota State 3
Game 2 - Minnesota State 5 #25 Wayne State 3
#25 Wayne State College split with Minnesota State on Saturday afternoon in Wayne. WSC took game one by the score of 9-3, and the visiting Mavericks rallied for a 5-3 win in game two. Wayne State is 32-10 overall and 20-3 in conference play. MSU is 26-12 overall and 19-3 in the NSIC. With the split, Wayne State maintained a ½ game lead in the conference over the Mavericks.
In game one, Wayne State got off to a great start with three runs in the bottom of the first inning, using three hits, three walks, and a wild pitch to take the 3-0 lead. Mike Bisenius had a two-run single, and Alex Koch added an RBI single for WSC in the three-run first inning. Wayne State added a single run in the third inning. Koch led off the inning with a single and advanced to second when Bisenius was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Nick Bidroski, and Koch later scored on a sacrifice fly by Brandon Polk which gave the 'Cats a 4-0 lead. WSC added three more runs in the fifth inning. Bidroski and John Plasha were each hit by a pitch. Polk followed with a single to load the bases with just one out. Justin Hemauer then delivered a two-run single to left field to score Bidroski and Plasha which gave WSC a 7-0 lead. Minnesota State got on the board in the sixth inning with three runs. Aaron Berner's RBI double and Steven Helget's RBI single highlighted the three-run sixth inning for the Mavericks. Wayne State responded with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth when John Plasha belted a two-run homer to left. Minnesota State was unable to rally, and Wayne State took game one by the score of 9-3.
Wayne State had nine hits in game one compared to seven for Minnesota State. Alex Koch went 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Mike Bisenius went 2 for 3 with two runs batted in and a run scored to lead WSC offensively. Justin Hemauer and John Plasha each added two RBI's for the 'Cats. Chad Moreland (6-2) earned the win on the mound for WSC and allowed three runs on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings pitched. Jared Hegdahl got the final four outs of the game for WSC on the mound. Steven Helget and Aaron Berner each had a hit and an RBI for Minnesota State. Chris Odegaard (4-4) took the loss on the mound for the Mavericks and allowed three runs on three hits with four walks and one strikeout in just one inning of work.
In game two, WSC jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by Treye Hacker. The score remained the same until MSU tied the game at 1-1 in the sixth inning. MSU's Jay Bresnahan led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Matt Kuckenbecker. A wild pitch advanced Bresnahan to third base, and he scored on a sacrifice fly by Geno Glynn. Wayne State reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the sixth, using five hits to score two runs to take a 3-1 lead. Mike Bisenius and John Plasha each had RBI singles to highlight the Wildcat sixth inning. However, Minnesota State scored four runs in the seventh inning on just two hits to take a 5-3 lead. With one out in the inning, Travis Taran single to right field. Three consecutive batters then walked for the Mavericks which scored Taran and cut the Wildcat lead to one at 3-2. A passed ball then scored Trent Vedders from third base to tie the game at 3-3. After Bresnahan was intentionally walked to load the bases, Kuckenbecker hit a sacrifice fly to score Corey LaPlante, giving MSU the 4-3 lead. Glynn then added an RBI single to give the Mavericks a 5-3 lead. Wayne State was unable to rally in the bottom of the seventh, and Minnesota State held on for the 5-3 win.
Wayne State had eight hits in the game compared to just four for MSU, but Wayne State pitchers walked seven Minnesota State batters in the game. Treye Hacker and Alex Koch each had two hits for Wayne State in the loss. Trenton Lee (1-1) took the loss on the mound for WSC in relief, allowing three runs on just one hit with two walks in just 1/3 of an inning pitched. Geno Glynn went 1 for 3 with two RBI's to lead Minnesota State offensively. Nathan Kafka (5-2) earned the win in relief for the Mavericks, allowing no runs and three hits with two strikeouts in two innings of work.
Wayne State will conclude its four-game series with Minnesota State Sunday in a doubleheader starting at noon at the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex.
