Game 1 WSC 6 BSU 1
Game 2 WSC 7 BSU 3
The Wayne State pitching staff allowed only three earned runs in Wildcats sweep of Bemidji State in non-conference baseball action at the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex Sunday afternoon in Wayne. The Wildcats took the first game 6-1 sophomore Tadd Johansen pitched a complete game for WSC allowing only one run while striking out three. Junior Travis Parsons was 3 for 3 with four RBI's in the Wildcats 7-3 win in game two. The Wildcats are now 7-7 on the season after the pair of victories, while the Beavers drop to 6-6 on the season.
The Wildcats bats came out strong in the first inning of the first game as WSC unleashed for four runs in the inning. The inning was highlighted by a Mike Bisenius double down the right field line that scored two runs. Bemidji State added a run in top of the second inning to make it 4-1 WSC. Wayne State responded in the bottom of the second inning and added a run to make it 5-1 as Braulio Acosta tripled to centerfield and later scored on a single through the left side by Justin Beranek.
The Wildcats made it 6-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning when Patrick Burkhardt ripped a double down the left field line and scored on another double by Acosta. Johansen would hold on to the lead for WSC as the sophomore earned his second complete game of the season after going all seven innings allowing one run on six hits with three knockouts.
The Wayne State offense was paced by Acosta in the first game as the junior went 2 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Bisenius was 1 for 2 with two RBI's and Taylor Welk was 2 for 3 with a double.
The second game saw the Beavers get on the board first as Bemidji State added a tally in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead. The Wildcats' bats were hot again in the opening inning as this time Wayne State added three runs in the bottom of the first inning. The bottom of the first was highlighted by a triple by Travis Parsons that hit the base of the fence in centerfield and scored a pair of runs. Beranek also added an RBI single in the inning for WSC.
Bemidji State cut the lead to 3-2 in the top of the fifth inning scoring on an RBI single by Cole Bergquist. The Cats' responded with four runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth. The four run outburst was once again paced by Parsons who smacked a two-run single to left centerfield to extend the Cats' lead to 6-2. Freshman Luke Abkes also added an RBI single in the inning to make it 7-2.
Bemidji State added a run in the sixth inning to cut it to 7-3, but Josh Nelsen earned the save for Wayne State throwing the final three innings allowing two earned runs on four hits. Senior Reid Lancaster earned the win for WSC throwing the first four innings allowing an unearned run and three hits.
The Wayne State offense was lead by Parsons who was 3 for 3 with four RBI's with a triple and a pair of singles. Beranek was 1 for 1 with a pair of runs scored and an RBI. Bisenius also added a pair of runs for Wayne State.
Wayne State is scheduled to open Northern Sun Conference play at home next weekend against Minnesota Duluth at the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex with doubleheaders scheduled to start at noon each day.
