Game 1 - Wayne State 11 Bemidji State 9

Game 2 - Wayne State 19 Bemidji State 2


            The Wayne State College baseball team snapped out of a season long slump offensively Monday by belting out 31 hits while scoring 30 runs in a Northern Sun Conference sweep at Bemidji State, winning 11-9 and 19-2 at the BSU Baseball Field in Bemidji, Minnesota.  WSC produced a season-high 14 hits in winning the opener and followed that with another season-high 17 hits while scoring a season-high 19 runs in completing the sweep. 

            Entering the NSIC opening series against Bemidji State, WSC had scored a season-high seven runs in games vs. Emporia State (March 2) and Wisconsin-Parkside (March 6).  In taking three out of four games vs. Bemidji State over the weekend, the Wildcats scored 15, 6, 11 and 19 runs in the four games while recording 11 or more hits in each game after producing just 10 or more hits in only two previous games before the Bemidji State series.

            In Monday's opener, WSC scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning to outlast Bemidji State 11-9.  Josh Nielsen's pinch hit two-run double to center field scored Treye Hacker and Jake Ritzdorf with the go ahead runs for the Wildcats while junior Eric Dye pitched six innings of strong relief to earn the pitching win.

            WSC opened the scoring with two runs in the first on a Mike Bisenius two-run single.  After BSU took a 3-2 lead with three runs in the bottom of the first, the 'Cats plated five runs in the second to grab a 7-3 lead.  John Plasha belted a two-run homer to left field while Nick Bidroski contributed a two-run double for key hits in the inning.  The Beavers scored twice in the second to make the score 7-5 after two innings.  WSC added solo runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 9-5 lead, but BSU responded with three in the fifth and one in the eighth inning to knot the score at 9-9.

            In the WSC ninth, Hacker singled up the middle and Ritzdorf reached on a fielding error by BSU to put runners at first and second with one out.  Nielsen then produced his pinch-hit double that scored two runs for the Wildcats.

            Eric Dye (1-0) worked six strong innings of relief in place of starter Josh Voth to pick up the pitching win.  He allowed just three hits and four runs (one earned) with six strikeouts and two walks. 

            WSC had 14 hits in the game led by freshman outfielder Justin Beranek who was 3 for 4 with a double and triple and two RBI's.  Nick Bidroski was 2 for 4 with a double, two RBI's and two runs scored while Joe Wendte and Treye Hacker each added two hits in the win.

            The second game saw WSC use seven run outbursts in the third and fifth innings to highlight a 19-2 win over the Beavers.  The 'Cats plated four runs in the first to take the early lead highlighted by Taylor Welk's two-run single.  WSC scored seven runs in the third inning off just three hits while taking advantage of two BSU errors and several walks.  Joe Wendte's three run homer was the key hit in the seven run fifth inning as WSC produced a season-high 17 hits in the win.

            Wendte finished 3 for 4 with four RBI's and four runs scored to power WSC at the plate.  Hacker finished 3 for 5 while Welk, Derek Eversole and John Plasha each accounted for two hits for the Wildcats.

            Sophomore starter Tom Doran improved to 2-1 on the season by pitching five innings to get the win, allowing five hits and two runs while striking out three.  Michael Frericks and Reid Lancaster each worked one inning of relief to finish the game.

            Wayne State will be at home for the first time this weekend at the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex, hosting Minnesota Duluth in NSIC doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday starting at noon each day.