Game 1: Wayne State 12 Minnesota, Crookston 2- 7 Innings
Game 2: Wayne State 5 Minnesota, Crookston 2
The Wayne State College baseball team used a pair of complete games by starting pitchers Tom Doran and Eric Dye to sweep Minnesota, Crookston Sunday afternoon at the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex in Wayne. Doran pitched seven innings allowing two runs on six hits in the Wildcats 12-2 win in the first game. In the second game Dye allowed two runs on two hits to lead Wayne State to a 5-2 win. The sweep makes WSC 26-21 overall and 21-10 in the NSIC. The pair of losses drops Minnesota, Crookston to 3-45 overall and 0-32 in the conference.
The 'Cats offense was abundant in game one as Wayne State scattered 17 hits and 12 runs. The Wildcats had six doubles in the game. Seven players in the Wildcats lineup had at least two hitsin the game.
Wayne State jumped out to an early 10-0 lead in the first four innings of play. The outburst was highlighted by two four run innings. Minnesota, Crookstons' two runs came in the top of the sixth inning as WSC took game one 12-2.
Wayne State had three payers with three hits in the game. Seniors Joe Wendte and John Palsha were both 3 for 4 in the game. Plasha scored three runs and drove in two and Wendte scored two runs and drove in another. Nick Bidroski was also 3 for 4 with two doubles and three RBI's. Doran (5-1) went the distance for Wayne State striking out four batters and allowing six hits in seven innings.
The Wildcats jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in game two when Mike Bisenius hit an RBI single up the middle scoring Wendte. The Golden Eagles tied the game at 1-1 in the top of second inning. The 'Cats responded with two more in the bottom of the second inning to take a 3-1 advantage as Justin Beranek laced a two run single into left field.
Wayne State added two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 5-1 lead. Wendte had an RBI single in the inning and Bisenius added a sacrifice fly to drive in Wayne State's runs. The Golden Eagles scored one run in the top of the fifth inning to make it 5-2, but that was close as it would get as the Wildcats took the win 5-2 and swept the weekend series from UMC.
Taylor Welk and Jake Ritzdorf were both 2 for 3 in the second game to lead Wayne State. Wendte was 1 for 2 with two walks, Wendte added one RBI and one run scored. Dye (3-1) had four strikeouts allowing only two hits in seven innings to earn his third win of the season.
Wayne State has qualified for the NSIC Tournament which begins Wednesday in St. Cloud, Minnesota with official pairings being announced Sunday evening.
