Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game 1 - Newman 4 Wayne State 3

Game 2 - Newman 6 Wayne State 4

            The Wayne State College baseball team opened the 2016 season Saturday afternoon suffering 4-3 and 6-4 losses at Newman University in Wichita, Kansas.  The host Jets improve to 3-2 on the season with WSC now 0-2.
            In the opener, WSC was held to four hits and nearly rallied to win the game in the top of the seventh before falling short by one run.
            With Newman leading 2-0 after one inning, WSC tied the game with single runs in the second and fourth innings.  Senior catcher Alex Kraft delivered an RBI single in the second inning that scored Bodie Cooper (walk) while Cooper produced a solo homer in the fourth to knot the score at 2-2.
            The Jets took the lead in the fifth with two runs for a 4-2 advantage heading into the seventh.  Nick McIntee reached on an error to start the seventh with Kreft singling and Curtis Bussard getting hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. 
            Tanner Simons recorded a sacrifice fly to score pinch runner Brandon Fowler making the score 4-3, but Cody Jenkins grounded out to second to end the game as the Jets escaped with the 4-3 win.
            Newman held a 7-4 edge on hits in the opener.  Kreft was 2 for 3 and an RBI.  Cooper homered with Aaron Krier recording the other Wildcat hit.
            Starter Keenan Breen suffered the pitching loss, working 4 1 /3 innings and allowing four runs (one earned) on three hits with five strikeouts and two walks.  Teague McFadden pitched the final 1 2/3 innings and did not allow a run on four hits with one walk.
            The second game saw Newman complete the sweep with a 6-4 win over the Wildcats.
            WSC took a 2-0 lead in the first on run-scoring singles from Nate Ackerman and Albert Johnson. 
            Leading 2-1 after two innings, WSC took a 3-1 lead in the third when Curtis Bussard tripled and scored on a wild pitch. 
            Newman plated three runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead for good at 4-3 and scored again in the sixth inning for a 5-3 advantage.
            The 'Cats got within one at 5-4 in the seventh when Tanner Simons doubled and scored on a Krier grounout.  But Newman added an insurance run in the eighth to finish with the 6-4 win.
            WSC had 11 hits in the game to 10 by Newman.  Albert Johnson and Tanner Simons each went 3 for 4 with Simons recording a double.  Ackerman finished 2 for 4 with a pair of singles.  Bussard tripled while Cody Jenkins and Bodie Cooper each singled.
            Joe Greco was tagged with the pitching loss, allowing four runs (three earned) over 2 2/3 innings on six hits.  Tanner Ledezma worked 3 1/3 innings of relief, giving up an unearned run on two hits with three strikeouts.  Mitch Ragan and Joey Lenihan each pitched one inning of relief.
            Wayne State and Newman will play another doubleheader Sunday in Wichita, Kansas starting at noon.