Box Score             Wayne State recorded 24 hits as seven players had multi-hit games and the Wildcats outscored Davis & Elkins of West Virginia 17-7 Thursday afternoon at the RussMatt Invitational Baseball Tournament in Auburndale, Florida.  The Wildcats are now 9-5 on the year while the Senators fall to 0-11.
            The 'Cats jumped out early, scoring five runs in the first inning.  Carter Thomas' RBI single brought home Cam Madsen with the first run.  Thomas and Colin Lynam (walk) scored on Kaden Young's two-out triple to right field for a 3-0 lead.  Alex Calabrese followed with an RBI double that scored Young and Kyler Essink's single scored Calabrese for the fifth run.
            WSC added two runs in the fourth for a 7-0 lead.  Chase Douglas had an RBI single to score Max Heard (error) while Thomas had an RBI groundout to bring home Madsen (single).
            The Senators cut the lead to 7-2 with a pair of runs in the fourth, but Wayne State scored three times in the fifth and sixth innings to take a commanding 13-2 advantage. 
            In the fifth, Calabrese had an RBI single and Essink delivered a two-run single.  The sixth inning saw Young triple and scored on a Calabrese two-run homer to right field while Heard added an RBI double in the inning.
            Davis & Elkins produced three runs in the seventh to cut the WSC lead to 13-5, but WSC came up with one run in the eighth and three in the ninth while the Senators closed the scoring with two in the ninth to make the final score 17-7.
            Heard's run-scoring triple in the eighth scored Keagan McLaughlin (single).  In the ninth, Jack Jones singled and later scored on a wild pitch.  Nick Ripa doubled and scored on a Blake Stanley sacrifice fly and Braden Cannon's single brought home Nate Cunningham, who walked, for Wayne State's three runs in the ninth.
            Wayne State had 24 hits in the contest.  Calabrese had a team-high four RBI's, going 3 for 4 with a homer, double and three runs scored.  Young was 3 for 4 with a pair of triples, three runs scored and two RBI.  Essink had a 3-4 day with three RBI while Thomas went 3 for 4 with a double and two RBI.
            Other top Wildcat hitters were Max Heard going 2 for 5 with a double, triple and two RBI while Chase Douglas was 2 for 4 in the win.
            Kolt Davis worked four strong innings to get the win, fanning six batters while giving up three hits and two runs.  Trey Wells, Braden Sweet, Nolan Belt, Riley Miller and Dylan Rodgers each saw action from the bullpen.
            Wayne State faces Thomas More of Kentucky Friday morning at 8 a.m. Central Time in Auburndale, Florida.