Game 1 - Wayne State 9 Southwest Minnesota State 3 (8 inn.)

Game 2 - Wayne State 7 Southwest Minnesota State 4

            The Wayne State College baseball team used stellar pitching and a 7 for 8 day at the plate from senior designated hitter John Roberts to sweep Southwest Minnesota State 9-3 in extra innings and 7-4 Friday afternoon in Northern Sun Conference baseball played at Alumni Field in Marshall, Minnesota.  With the wins , Wayne State officially clinches a berth in next week's NSIC Baseball Tournament improving to 20-14 in league play and 25-22 overall while SMSU slips to 21-27 and 14-18 in the NSIC.
            The first game saw three WSC pitchers strike out 18 SMSU batters while scoring six runs in the top of the eighth to win the opener in extra innings 9-3. 
            WSC junior starter Eric Browning matched a career-high with 13 strikeouts in six innings of work, but got a no-decision as the 'Cats erupted for six runs in the top of the eighth to record a 9-3 win.
            The 'Cats trailed 3-2 after five innings, but Roberts came through with a two-out, solo homer in the top of the sixth inning to knot the score at 3-3, sending the game into extra innings.
            WSC then produced seven hits in the eighth, highlighted by Kevin Andersen's two-run double, that boosted the Wildcats in the win.  Other key hits in the inning included run-scoring singles from Tanner Simons, Curtis Bussard, Michael Herman and Zak Leighton.
            The Wildcats held a 14-5 edge in hitting over the Mustangs.  Roberts finished a perfect 4 for 4 with a homer and two RBI's.  Herman and Simons each went 2 for 4 with Simons accounting for two RBI and two runs scored.  Bussard ended the game 2 for 5 while Andersen doubled and drove in two runs.
            Bussard was the winning pitcher in relief for WSC, improving to 2-3.  He pitched the seventh inning with two walks and two strikeouts.  Starter Eric Browning pitched six stellar innings, allowing just three runs on four hits with 13 strikeouts and three walks while sophomore Joey Lenihan finished the game with one inning of relief, striking out three while walking one.
            The second game saw the Wildcats use a five-run fifth inning to support senior starter Dylan McGill, who improved to 7-0 on the season, giving WSC a 7-4 win to complete the sweep.
            Tied at 2-2 after four innings, WSC notched four hits in the fifth inning to score five runs to take a 7-2 lead.  Roberts and Herman each produced run-scoring doubles followed by a three-run homer from Simons over the left center field wall to put the 'Cats ahead to stay.
            WSC had eight hits in the game to six for SMSU.  Roberts capped his great day at the plate by going 3 for 4 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI.  Herman was 2 for 2 with a double and two runs scored while Simons added a homer and three RBI. 
            McGill stayed perfect on the season (7-0) by firing five strong innings.  He gave up five hits and two runs while striking out seven without issuing a walk.  Junior Connor Keating worked one inning of relief, giving up two runs on one hit with one walk while Bussard came on in the seventh inning to preserve the win, recording his fourth save of the season by retiring all three batters with one strikeout.
            Wayne State and Southwest Minnesota State will play another doubleheader on Saturday at 12 p.m. to conclude the regular season and four-game NSIC series in Marshall, Minnesota.