Game 1 Wayne State 9 Bemidji State 2
Game 2 Wayne State 2 Bemidji State 1
Wayne State improved to 9-5 on the young season with a double header sweep of Bemidji State Sunday afternoon at the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex in Wayne, Nebraska. The Wildcats won the first game 9-2 and won game two 2-1. With the two victories today, Wayne State swept all four games with the Beavers over the weekend.
Game one saw the Wildcats score four runs in the first two innings as Mike Bisenius had a sacrifice fly out in the bottom of the first inning to bring in Pat Burkhart and give WSC a 1-0 lead. Wayne State then poured on three runs in the bottom of the second inning as Brett Keim, Pat Burkhart and Braulio Acosta each recorded an RBI for the 'Cats. WSC added three more runs in inning number four as Justin Beranek scored on a wild pitch, Brett Keim knocked in Jake Ritzdorf on a sacrifice fly and Acosta doubled to left center to bring in Burkhart to push the Wildcat lead to 7-0.
The Beavers responded with two runs in the top of the fifth inning but Wayne State would get those runs right back in the bottom of the fifth with two runs of their own. Justin Beranek tripled to bring in Michael Herman and then Ritzdorf singled to drive in Beranek and push the Wildcats to the 9-2 victory.
Tom Doran got the win on the mound for WSC to improve to 1-1 on the season. Doran pitched 5.0 innings with 1 strikeout and two walks while allowing five hits and two runs (one earned). Eric Schwieger and Jared Barth each pitched an inning for the 'Cats.
WSC was led at the plate by Pat Burkhart who had two hits and one RBI while scoring three times. Travis Parsons also had two hits for Wayne State while Braulio Acosta, Justin Beranek, Jake Ritzdorf and Luke Abkes each had one hit.
In game two, the Wildcats scored one run in the first inning when C.J. Nolen drove in Braulio Acosta to go up 1-0. WSC then added another run in the second inning as Brett Keim laid down a bunt that Jake Ritzdorf scored on to push the Wayne State lead to 2-0. The third, fourth and fifth innings were all scoreless for both teams.
Bemidji State got on the board in the top of the six inning and cut the Wildcats' lead to 2-1. Mike Frericks hit a batter to load the bases and Taylor MacDonell was brought in out of the WSC bullpen to preserve the lead. MacDonell then forced Riley Hirsch to hit into an inning-ending double play and the 'Cats would hold BSU to no runs in the top of the seventh to hold on for the 2-1 victory over the Beavers.
Mike Frericks got the win on the mound for Wayne State and improved to 1-0 on the season as he threw 5.1 innings for five strikeouts and one walk while surrendering six hits and one run (one earned). Taylor MacDonell recorded his first save of the season as he threw 1.2 innings to seal the victory for WSC.
Jake Ritzdorf led the 'Cats at the dish with two hits and score once while Pat Burkhart, Braulio Acosta, C.J. Nolen and Kevin Anderson each had one hit.
Wayne State will host University of Mary in a conference doubleheader on March 24th and 25th at the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex starting at 12:00 p.m.
