Wayne State 7 #9 Emporia State 3
Jake Ritzdorf and John Plasha each had a double, two hits and two RBI's and Wayne State used a five-run fifth inning to down NCAA Division II 9th-ranked Emporia State 7-3 in a non conference college baseball game played Tuesday afternoon in Emporia, Kansas. The Wildcats moved to 4-5 on the season with the win while handing Emporia State just its second loss in nine games.
After Emporia State took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Wildcats used four hits and a pair of walks to score five runs in the fifth inning to take control of the game. Joe Wendte's solo homer tied the score at 1-1 to start the inning. Nick Bidroski walked and Justin Beranek doubled followed by an RBI groundout from John Plasha scored Bidroski to put WSC in front 2-1. With two outs, Mike Bisenius singled to score Beranek, then Josh Nielsen walked and with Nielsen and Bisenius coming home on a two-run double to center field by Jake Ritzdorf to give the Wildcats a 5-1 lead.
WSC added two more runs in the sixth to take a 7-1 lead. Brandon Polk led off with a double and scored on a fielding error by Emporia State center fielder Travis Whipple after Nick Bidroski singled. Bidroski later scored on Plasha's RBI double down the left field line to give WSC a 7-1 advantage. Emporia State plated single runs in the seventh and eighth innings to make the final score 7-3.
The Wildcats had 11 hits in the game to nine for Emporia State. Ritzdorf finished 2 for 4 with two RBI's and a double while Plasha was 2 for 5 with a double and two RBI's for WSC. Josh Nielsen added two singles and was 2 for 4. Joe Wendte belted a solo homer while Beranek and Polk each contributed doubles in the win.
Junior Eric Dye was strong in four innings of work to start the game on the mound for the Wildcats, striking out seven batters while allowing four hits and one run while being held on a pitch count. Redshirt freshman reliever Tadd Johansen followed with three solid innings of relief to earn the win, allowing two runs on four hits with one strikeout. Trevor Reeves and Josh Nelsen each pitched one inning of relief to finish the game for the Wildcats.
Wayne State will play Wisconsin-Parkside to start its annual spring break trip on Saturday in Evansville, Indiana with game time set for 11:00 a.m.
