Game 1 - Wayne State 15 Bemidji State 2
Game 2 - Bemidji State 7 Wayne State 6
Wayne State College opened Northern Sun Conference baseball play Sunday afternoon with a split at Bemidji State. The Wildcats dominated the first game by outscoring the Beavers 15-2 in seven innings, but Bemidji State earned a split in the second game by scoring six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to rally for a 7-6 win over the Wildcats. WSC is now 5-11 and 1-1 in the NSIC while Bemidji State is 10-9 overall and 1-1 in league play.
In the first game, WSC used 11 hits while taking advantage of 11 walks by Bemidji State pitching to record a 15-2 win in seven innings. Nick Bidroski's three run homer capped a four-run first inning to get the Wildcats off to a quick start. The 'Cats scored five in the third inning to take a 9-0 lead as Tadd Johansen produced an RBI double along with run-scoring singles from Treye Hacker and Jake Ritzdorf to highlight the big inning. WSC took a 12-0 lead in the fifth inning with three runs as Joe Wendte belted a two-run homer along with a Brandon Polk run-scoring double to fuel the inning. Three more runs in the sixth inning gave WSC a 15-0 lead as the Wildcats scored three runs without a hit, using five walks to plate three runs.
Senior starting pitcher John Snyder (1-3) was the benefactor of the Wildcat run support in the first game, pitching a complete game. The Millard West graduate allowing eight hits and two runs while striking out six batters without a walk.
Mike Bisenius led a balanced hitting attack for the Wildcats by going 3 for 4 with three runs scored. Jake Ritzdorf was 2 for 4 with two RBI's and two runs scored while Bidroski and Wendte homered for WSC. Tadd Johansen was 1 for 3 with a double and scored three runs as eight of nine starters recorded at least one hit for WSC in the win.
The second game saw Bemidji State rally for six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to come from behind in a 7-6 win over the Wildcats. WSC opened the scoring with two runs in the first when Treye Hacker's double scored Nick Bidroski and John Plasha to put the 'Cats up early. After BSU scored in the third inning to make the score 2-1, WSC added a solo run in the fifth and two in the sixth to take a 5-1 lead. Justin Beranek tripled and Nick Bidroski singled to score Beranek for the run in the fifth inning and in the sixth inning Hacker singled and scored on a Mike Bisenius double while Bisenius scored on Jake Ritzdorf's single to give WSC a 5-1 lead. But BSU scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning of WSC relievers Tadd Johansen and Josh Nelsen to grab a 7-5 lead.
The Wildcats nearly tied the game in the top of the seventh but left the tying run on at second base as WSC fell 7-6. Joe Wendte and Justin Beranek singled but Wendte was retired at third on a fielders choice by Nick Bidroski. Beranek scored on a John Plasha RBI groundout but Treye Hacker flied out to centerfield to end the game as the Wildcats suffered its fourth one-run defeat of the season.
WSC outhit Bemidji State 11-10 in the game. Beranek finished 3 for 4 with a triple and two runs scored followed by Hacker and Ritzdorf each recording two hits. Wendte, Bidroski, Plasha and Bisenius also had hits for WSC.
Starting pitcher Austen Wisroth worked the first five innings, allowing just one run on five hits with five strikeouts. Reliever Tadd Johansen was charged with four runs (three earned) on two hits with three walks and one strikeout while closer Josh Nelsen (0-2) suffered the loss, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits in one inning with one walk and one strikeout.
Wayne State will face Bemidji State Monday at noon in a doubleheader to close out the four-game Northern Sun Conference series in Bemidji, Minnesota.
