Wayne State 9 Northern State 7

            Wayne State had five players record two hits while holding off a Northern State rally in the ninth inning to defeat the Wolves 9-7 Friday evening in non-conference baseball played at the RussMatt Invitational played at Lake Myrtle Park in Auburndale, Florida.  The Wildcats are now 5-6 on the year while the Wolves drop to 4-6.
            The Wildcats appeared to open the game with runs in the first inning as the first three batters of the game reached on a pair of singles and a hit batter, but the next three batters were retired by Northern State to avoid a quick WSC start.
            Wayne State stayed aggressive at the plate in the second inning and produced three runs for a 3-0 lead.  Freshman Chase Douglas opened the scoring with an RBI single that brought home Nate Sailors, who walked.  Colin Lynam followed with a two-run double to center field that scored Douglas and Cam Madsen (single) to cap the inning.
            Northern State got on the board with one run in the bottom of the third to cut the Wildcat advantage to 3-1, but WSC responded with a run in the top of the fifth to take a 4-1 cushion when Colin Lynam reached on an error and crossed home plate after a Noah Roberts single to right field.
            The Wolves closed the Wildcat lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth, using a pair of walks and a two-run single to get within one run.
            WSC wasted little time in adding to their lead as the 'Cats produced three runs in the seventh inning on two hits, two NSU walks and one error.  Madsen came through with a two-run single to right field scoring Chris Cornish (single) and Roberts (walk) with the third run coming when Douglas reached on a two-out error that scored Colin Lynam (walk).
            NSU used back-to-back doubles to score one run in the bottom of the seventh to reduce the Wildcat lead to 7-4.
            The 'Cats added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth inning thanks to three straight hits to start the inning.  Colin Lynam singled with Cornish following with a double.  A single from Roberts brought home Lynam with the first run while Cornish came home on a Cade Lynam sacrifice fly to make the score 9-4.
            Northern State made the game interesting in the seventh inning with a pinch hit three run homer but the Wildcats held on for the 9-7 win.
            WSC had one more hit than Northern State 11-10.  Five different Wildcats had two hits apiece in the win.  Colin Lynam was 2 for 4 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored while Chris Cornish finished 2 for 5 with a double and two runs scored.  Cam Madsen was 2 for 5 with two RBI while Noah Roberts was 2 for 4 with two RBI and Chase Douglas added two singles.
            Keean Allen was the starting pitcher and worked 4 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and one run with four strikeouts.  Reliever Josh Renken worked one inning and was credited with the win, now 2-0.  Freshman left hander Jacob Kneifl fired the final 3 1/3 innings and was credited with a save fanning five batters while allowing five hits and four runs.
            Weather permitting Saturday, Wayne State will face D'Youville College of New York at 11:30 a.m. and close out their Florida spring trip with a Sunday doubleheader against Grand Valley State of Michigan.