Game 1 - Southwest Minnesota State 2 Wayne State 1
Game 2 - Wayne State 25 Southwest Minnesota State 12 (7 inn.)
The Wayne State College baseball team split a twinbill with Southwest Minnesota State in a Northern Sun Conference baseball doubleheader played Sunday afternoon at the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex in Wayne. The Wildcats dropped the first contest 2-1 to see a 12-game win streak come to an end, but then erupted for 25 runs on 21 hits in the second game to walk away with a 25-12 (7 Innings) victory. WSC improves to 25-17 and 18-10 in the NSIC as the Wildcats qualify for the NSIC Tournament played next week in Mankato, Minnesota while the Mustangs finish their season at 11-25 and 7-18 in the NSIC.
The first game saw Southwest Minnesota State score two runs in the top of the seventh inning to rally for a 2-1 win over Wayne State. The 'Cats got on the board in the first inning as Pat Burkhart scored the only Wildcat run on a fielder's choice by Travis Parsons to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. The game remained scoreless until the seventh inning as the Mustangs tagged Wildcat pitcher Reid Lancaster for two runs on three hits in the top of the frame to take a 2-1 advantage. The Wildcats managed to put two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh inning, but the WSC failed to capitalize falling to SMSU 2-1 in the first contest.
Lancaster (4-3) picked up the loss for WSC throwing 6 2/3 innings allowing two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts. Matt Meier pitched a third of an inning with a strikeout in relief of Lancaster. The Wildcat's were led offensively by senior Josh Nielsen who was 2-2 in the first contest with a double and a walk. Parsons was 1 for 3 with an RBI.
The second game saw the Wildcats pound out a season-high 25 runs on a season-high 21 hits. The Wildcats scored 11 runs in the first inning on seven hits. Wayne State also added seven runs in the fifth inning as WSC had six extra base hits in the second contest with two home runs.
SMSU scored four runs in the opening frame to jump out to an early 4-0 lead. The 'Cats responded with 11 runs in the bottom of the first inning as the frame was highlighted by a moon shot by Parsons to left center field as the homer capped the 11-run barrage.
WSC held the Mustangs offense in check after the first inning until SMSU scored six runs in the top of the fifth inning to make it 18-10 WSC. But the Wildcats added seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning as Justin Beranek hit a two-run triple followed by a two-run homer off the bat of Mike Bisenius to highlight the seven run frame. The Mustangs added two runs in the final two innings, but it wasn't enough as WSC defeated SMSU 25-12 in seven innings.
Eric Schwieger (3-3) picked up the win going four innings allowing eight runs on eight hits. Taylor Simmonds went two thirds of an inning allowing two runs and Tyler Hohenstein went 2 1/3 innings allowing two runs on four hits.
The Wildcats' offense was paced by Pat Burkhart, Travis Parsons and Josh Nielsen as the trio each recorded three hits in the second contest. Burkhart was 3 for 5 with four RBI's and three runs scored. Parsons was also 3 for 5 with three RBI's and three runs scored while Nielsen was 3 for 5 with three runs scored.
Wayne State will be the #4 seed for the upcoming Northern Sun Conference Baseball Tournament that will be played in Mankato, Minnesota Wednesday-Saturday, May 11-14. Official pairings and game times will be announced by the NSIC office late Sunday evening.
