Game 1 - Wayne State 3 Sioux Falls 2

Game 2 - Wayne State 7 Sioux Falls 3

            Wayne State moved to 15-0 in the friendly confines of the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex Saturday by knocking off Sioux Falls in back-to-back games, winning 3-2 and 7-3 in the doubleheader. The Wildcats have won every game this season played in Wayne and continue their hot streak of 17 wins in their last 19 games. WSC moves to 26-9 (17-5 NSIC) on the season while the Cougars drop to 9-26 (7-15 NSIC) on the 2019 campaign.
            Sioux Falls flew out of the gates, fighting off a 1-2 count to earn an opening walk. Josh Rehwaldt took a double down the left field line to put runners in scoring position early for the Cougars. A ground out and strikeout limited the damage to one early run, but the Cougars grabbed an RBI single from Ryan Bernardy to go into the bottom of the first 2-0.
            Wayne State answered with their own offense in their half of the inning, able to get Alex Logelin on first after a Cougar error. Kyle Thompson continued his strong season, grabbing an RBI double to half the deficit. The Wildcats weren't done there as an Andrew Hanson RBI single and a Peyton Barnes RBI triple turned the advantage in favor of the Wildcats.
            Wildcat pitcher Aidan Breedlove settled down after an initial Cougar flurry, rallying for 13 straight outs starting from the third out in the first and lasting until replaced after the fifth inning. The junior through five innings, striking out five batters and only giving up two hits.
            While the Wildcat defense shut down the Cougar offense, Sioux Falls limited Wayne State's firepower as well. The Wildcats tallied just one hit in each of the last four innings, unable to add any insurance to their lead.
            Freshman Andrew Staebell came into the game in the sixth, striking out the first two Sioux Falls batters. After walking the next two batters, Staebell rallied to force a line drive straight to the glove of Bryce Bisenius to escape the inning.
            Senior Charles Hasty stepped on the mound to try to grab his sixth save of the season in the top of the seventh. The Plattsmouth native needed only seven pitches, forcing a strikeout and two first-pitch outs to give the Wildcats a 3-2 victory.
            Breedlove moved to 7-2 with the win while Hasty earned his sixth save. Brandon Roesler grabbed the loss in his complete game effort, striking out four Wildcats and giving up seven hits.
            Thompson and Hanson both led the Wildcats offensively, both going two for three at the plate while accounting for two runs and two RBI.
            The second game saw junior Hunter Wienhoff continue where the pitching staff led off; forcing the first three Cougars back to the dugout.
            Like the first game, the Wildcats grabbed early offense to establish a lead. Hanson brought Logelin (single) around with an RBI single through the left side. Barnes joined the array, lining a shot into right center to bring around Bisenius (walk). Hanson made his way around to home through a Cougar balk before Sioux Falls escaped the inning, limiting the damage to 3-0.
            Another hitless top of the inning brought the Wildcats up to the plate. Garrett Graveline led WSC off with a single up the middle. An attempted sacrifice bunt forced Graveline out at second. CJ Neumann used a failed pick off to move from first to third, setting up an easy trot to home after a Brendan Madsen shot to right center to pick up two bases and increase the lead to 4-0.
            Sioux Falls responded in the top of the third, grabbing their first hit of the game and sending a runner home on an RBI single from Josh Rehwaldt.
            The Wildcat offense scored in their third straight inning, using back-to-back doubles from Thompson and Bisenius to reestablish their four-run lead. Barnes grabbed his second RBI of the day with a deep fly ball to center, scoring Bisenius and extending the lead to 6-1.
            Wienhoff took control on the mound, sending batters down in order in the fourth and fifth innings. Logelin added to the lead in the bottom frame of the fifth, blasting a no-doubter over left field for his fifth of the season and extending the lead to 7-1.
            Ryan Petersen replaced Wienhoff in the ninth inning, striking out the first batter he faced. With runners on the corners and a Cougar already home, Hasty made his second appearance in as many games, forcing the next two batters out in order. Sioux Falls were able to get two consolation runs in the inning, but not enough to threaten the eventual 7-3 scoreline in favor of the Wildcats.
            Wienhoff pitched eight complete innings, striking out seven batters and giving up just three hits. The win moves him to 8-1 on the year, while Keenahn Coyle moved to 0-6 with the loss. Barnes paced the 'Cats in the second game with two hits and two RBI, while Logelin and Bisenius both grabbed two hits, a run and an RBI.
            The Wildcats and Cougars will conclude the three-game NSIC series with a nine-inning contest on Sunday starting at 12 p.m. at the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex in Wayne.