Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game 1 - Wayne State 4 Sioux Falls 3

Game 2 - Wayne State 11 Sioux Falls 10

            Wayne State College held off final inning rallies by Sioux Falls in both games to win a pair of one-run contests 4-3 and 11-10 Saturday afternoon in Northern Sun Conference baseball played at Sioux Falls Stadium.  The Wildcats, now 7-5 in one run games this season, close regular season play at 28-22 overall and fourth place in the NSIC at 23-15 while USF ends the year at 19-31 and 16-24 in the NSIC (12th place).
            The opener saw the Wildcats hold off a furious USF rally in the seventh inning as WSC held on for a 4-3 win.
            WSC took a 3-0 lead in the third as senior first baseman Cody Jenkins delivered a two-run single that scored Aaron Krier (hit by pitch) and Tanner Simons (single).  Jenkins later scored on a Bryce Bisenius single to left field for a 3-0 Wildcat lead.
            USF scored its first run in the fourth to make the score 3-1 and the score stayed that way until the seventh when WSC picked up what proved to be a critical insurance run.  Jackson Petersen walked and scored on a Jenkins sacrifice fly to put the 'Cats in front 4-1.
            The host Cougars staged a furious rally in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two runs on four hits off Wildcat starter Bobby St. Pierre with the tying run on second and game-winning run on first with two outs.  But St. Pierre recorded a fielder's choice for the final out as the 'Cats held on for the 4-3 win.
            USF had 10 hits in the game to nine for WSC.  Jenkins finished 2 for 3 with three RBI to lead the way while Bisenius ended 2 for 3 with an RBI.  Krier, Simons, Kyle Thompson, Tandon Dorn and Petersen each singled in the win.
            St. Pierre (5-5) pitched a complete game to earn the pitching win for the 'Cats, allowing three runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
            The second game played out similar to the first as WSC built a lead, then had to hold off a surging Cougar club in the final inning as the 'Cats held on for an 11-10 win.
            WSC trailed 6-5 after five innings, but used a five-run sixth to take the lead for good at 10-6.  Tanner Simons belted a three-run homer for the key hit in the sixth inning while Aaron Krier added a two-run double. 
            A Chris May sacrifice fly in the seventh inning that scored Bodie Cooper (walk) ended up being the game-winning run for the 'Cats.
            USF closed within 11-10 with a pair of runs in the seventh.  Senior reliever Keenan Breen pitched a scoreless eighth to give WSC an 11-10 lead heading into the ninth.
            Junior closer Kyle Kennebeck came on in the ninth, but after recording the first out allowed a single and double to place runners at second and third with one out.  Kennebeck got out of the jam with a pair of fly outs to earn the save, his ninth of the season that ties Curtis Bussard (2014) and Dustin Nilius (2005) for the most saves in a single season by a Wildcat pitcher.
            WSC finished the game with nine hits.  May was 2 for 4 with a double and four RBI followed by Cooper going 2 for 4 with three runs scored.  Simons had a three-run homer while Krier chipped in with a two-run double.
            The Wildcats used eight pitchers in the contest with Mitchell Gullikson (1-0) picking up the win, allowing two runs on three walks in 2/3 inning work.  Kennebeck collected his school-record matching ninth save in the ninth, allowing two hits and no runs.
            Wayne State will be the #4 seed for the NSIC Baseball Tournament in St. Cloud, Minnesota and will face #5 seed Minot State in the first round on Wednesday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. at Putz Field.  Minot State beat WSC 3-1 in a four-game series played in Wayne March 18 and 19.