The Wayne State College baseball team got an early start to the 2024 season Friday afternoon with a 12-0 Northern Sun Conference neutral site victory over Bemidji State at Elkhorn's Frerichs Legion Field in the season opener for both teams.
            Junior left hander Corbin Kirk was impressive in his season debut on the mound, allowing just one hit with nine strikeouts over five innings to pick up the win, while offensively WSC had 11 hits in the season-opening victory.
            The 'Cats opened the scoring in the second inning when sophomore catcher Trey Wells was hit by a pitch and later scored on a single by designated hitter Tommy Roland for the first WSC run of the season.
            WSC added four runs in the fourth inning to take a 5-0 advantage.  Quinn McCafferty led off the frame with a double and scored on another RBI single from Roland.  Colin Lynam later produced a three-run double to right field that brought home pinch runner Brayden Chaney, Chase Douglas and Cam Madsen for a 5-0 lead.
            Two more runs in the fifth put the 'Cats ahead 7-0.  Douglas had an RBI single to bring home Kaden Young (single) while Douglas later scored on a wild pitch for the second run.
            In the sixth inning, Young laced an RBI double to right field scoring Trey Wells (double) and in the seventh Carter Thomas had an RBI single that scored Douglas, who led off the inning with a single, giving WSC a 9-0 lead.
            Wayne State added three runs in the ninth as Noah Strizek, Wells and Nick Ripa each walked and later scored on either wild pitches or a passed ball to close out the scoring in the 12-0 win.
            WSC had 11 hits in the win while holding BSU to just one.  Roland was 2 for 2 with a pair of RBI's.  Douglas ended the day 2 for 4 with three runs scored.  Kaden Young was 2 for 3 with a double, RBI and run scored while McCafferty added two hits.  Colin Lynam had a three-run double while Wells doubled and scored three runs.
            Kirk was the winning pitcher for WSC with five strong innings of work, fanning nine batters while allowing just one hit and three walks.  Junior reliever Jacob Kneifl pitched two innings of hitless relief with one strikeout while senior right hander Brody Sintek tossed two hitless innings of relief with three strikeouts to clinch the shutout.
            Wayne State and Bemidji State face each other again Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. in Elkhorn.