Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game 1 - Minnesota State 8 Wayne State 7 (8 inn.)

Game 2 - Minnesota State 5 Wayne State 4

            Wayne State College suffered a pair of one-run games at Minnesota State Wednesday afternoon, falling 8-7 in eight innings and 5-4 in Northern Sun Conference play at the MSU Baseball Complex in Mankato, Minnesota.  The Wildcats, now 1-8 in one run games this season, fall to 13-26 and 10-14 in the NSIC while Minnesota State is now 29-14 and 20-9 in league play.
            The opener saw Minnesota State's Josh Wenzel blast a two out home run over the centerfield fence to hand the Wildcats a heartbreaking 8-7 setback in eight innings.
            WSC used a Curtis Bussard grand slam in the second inning to take a 4-0 lead.  MSU responded with five runs in the bottom of the third for a 5-4 advantage.
            The Wildcats regained the lead in the top of the fourth with two runs on solo homers from Cody Jenkins and Bussard for a 6-5 lead.  The Mavericks tied the game in the bottom of the frame to make the score 6-6.
            WSC had a chance to win the game in the seventh, loading the bases with one out before ending the scoring threat on a double play.
            The 'Cats used a Jenkins' RBI single to left scoring Tanner Simons (double) to take a 7-6 lead in the eighth.
            Wildcat closer Curtis Bussard came on in the bottom of the eighth and retired the first two batters, but a walk and homer by Wenzel gave the host Mavericks the dramatic win.
            WSC had seven hits in the game, led by Bussard who was 2 for 4 at the plate with two homers and five RBI.  Jenkins ended 2 for 3 with a homer while Simons and Albert Johnson each doubled.
            Bussard (1-3) suffered the pitching loss, allowing two runs on one hit and one walk in the eighth.  Starter Taner Ledezma worked the first six innings and gave up six runs on nine hits with five strikeouts and four walks while reliever Dalton Smith worked the seventh and allowed one hit.
            The second game saw the Mavericks hold off the Wildcats 5-4 in another one-run defeat for WSC.
            MSU held a 2-0 lead after two innings, but WSC used a three-run third to grab a 3-2 lead.  Bussard belted a three-run homer that scored Jenkins (single) and Brandon Fowler (single).
            The Mavericks scored one run in the third and two more in the fourth to take a 5-3 lead.
            WSC put together three singles with two outs in the fifth to score, making it 5-4 on Aaron Krier's RBI single that brought home Fowler (single).
            But WSC could not rally for the tying run as MSU closer Dakota Belter retired all six batters he faced in the final two innings to seal the 5-4 Mavericks win.
            Wayne State had six hits in the contest, paced by Bussard going 2 for 3 with three RBI and a home run.  Fowler finished 2 for 3 with two runs scored while Jenkins and Krier each singled.  Johnson ended the game 0 for 3, ending a season high 22-game hitting streak for the Wildcats.
            Starter Teague McFadden (1-3) was tagged with the loss, charged with five runs over 3 1/3 innings on six hits with two strikeouts and four walks.  Connor Keating pitched the final 2 2/3 innings and allowed just two hits with one walk and one strikeout.
            Wayne State will conclude the regular season Friday and Saturday with 12 p.m. doubleheaders in Fayette, Iowa.