Game 1 - Northern State 7 Wayne State 2

Game 2 - Wayne State 14 Northern State 4 (7 inn.)

            Junior designated hitter Patrick Burkhart went 7 for 10 with four stolen bases, three RBI's and three runs scored while senior pitcher Reid Lancaster improved to 3-0 on the season Sunday afternoon to help the Wayne State baseball team split a Northern Sun Conference doubleheader with Northern State.  The Wolves won the first game 7-2 with Wayne State rebounding in the second game for a 14-4 seven inning win over Northern State.  WSC is now 9-9 on the season and 2-2 in the NSIC while Northern State is 5-11 overall and 2-6 in league play.

            In the opener, Wayne State took a 2-0 lead in the third inning when designated hitter Patrick Burkhart singled and scored on a Mike Bisenius two run blast over the right field fence for the early lead.  But that would be all the scoring for the Wildcats as Northern State starter Lucas Jung held WSC scoreless the rest of the game after giving up five hits and two runs in the first three innings as the Wolves took the opener over the Wildcats for the second straight day.

            Northern State took the lead for good with three runs in the fourth and another in the sixth that chased Wildcat starter Tadd Johansen.  The Wolves added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh for the 7-2 win.

            The Wolves had 10 hits to seven for WSC in the first game.  Burkhart finished 3 for 4 with a stolen base and run scored for the Wildcats.  Bisenius homered while Braulio Acosta, Nick Bidroski and Taylor Welk each singled. 

            Tadd Johansen (2-2) suffered the pitching loss, allowing four runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings with four strikeouts and two walks.  Senior reliever Matt Meier worked the final 1 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on five hits with two walks and one strikeout. 

            The second game saw Patrick Burkhart go 4 for 6 with three RBI's and three stolen bases and WSC scored at least one run in every inning to roll over the Wolves 14-4 in seven innings to salvage a split in the four-game NSIC series with Northern State.

            Northern State scored twice in the top of the first to take an early 2-0 lead.  WSC scored one in the first when Patrick Burkhart singled and later scored on a wild pitch.  The Wildcats took the lead for good in the second inning at 4-2 by scoring three runs on just one hit and four walks by two Northern State pitchers.  The lone hit in the inning was a Josh Nielsen RBI single.  Wayne State scored four runs in the third inning to take an 8-2 lead.  The 'Cats had just two hits and used two Northern errors to score the four runs.  Travis Parsons tripled and Patrick Burkhart produced an RBI single in the inning.

            WSC took a 9-2 lead in the fourth inning when Nick Bidroski singled and scored on a double to right field by Slade Bolles.  The 'Cats increased their lead to 12-2 in the fifth inning scoring three runs.  Parsons and Ritzdorf each had RBI singles to highlight the inning.  Northern State got on the board again in the sixth inning with two runs to make the score 12-4.  WSC answered with one more run in the bottom of the sixth for a 13-4 lead as Braulio Acosta doubled and later scored on Burkhart's RBI single.  The Wildcats scored again in the bottom of the seventh to finish off the Wolves as Jake Ritzdorf was hit by the pitch and later scored on Burkhart's RBI single up the middle to end the game giving WSC the 14-4 seven inning win.

            Wayne State used 12 hits along with 10 walks and four Northern State errors to score their 14 runs in the contest.  Burkhart finished 4 for 6 with three RBI's, three stolen bases and two runs scored to lead the Wildcats at the plate.  Travis Parsons was 2 for 4 with a triple while Slade Bolles was 2 for 3 with a double and two runs scored for the Wildcats in the win. 

            Norfolk senior pitcher Reid Lancaster improved to 3-0 on the season by working six strong innings.  He allowed four runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and two walks.  Jerad Barth pitched the seventh inning and allowed one hit with two strikeouts and one walk. 

            Wayne State will be at home again Wednesday afternoon hosting Augustana College in a Northern Sun Conference doubleheader beginning at 1:30 p.m.