Wayne State College dropped a non-conference baseball doubleheader Monday in Rolla, Missouri against the Miners from Missouri S&T by scores of 6-4 and 9-3.  The 'Cats are now 4-3 on the season with the Miners improving to 2-1.
            The opener saw host Missouri S&T hold off a late WSC rally to hang on for a 6-4 win.
            The Miners scored two runs in the first, one in the second and four in the fifth for a 6-0 lead.
            Meanwhile, WSC was held to just two hits in the first five innings – both by Gabe Monosmith with a second inning single and fourth inning double.
            But the 'Cats started their rally with two runs in the sixth as Nate Cunningham's sacrifice fly to centerfield brought home Max Heard with the first run while a Braden Cannon RBI single to center scored Monosmith.
            WSC threatened again in the seventh with two more runs and had the tying run at second when the Miners held on for the win.  Paul Schuyler singled and Heard was hit by a pitch to start the inning and both later scored on a Cunningham two-run single. 
            The 'Cats then loaded the bases with two outs and had the tying run at second but the Miners got a groundout to end the game to hang on for the 6-4 win.
            Wayne State had one more hit than the Miners 7-6.  Monosmith ended 3 for 3 with a double and run scored.  Cunningham added a two-run single and had three RBI while Heard scored twice and had a single. 
            Braden Sweet started the game and was tagged with the pitching loss, allowing three runs in the first two innings.  Kyler Hanson worked 2 1/3 innings of relief, giving up three runs on four hits while freshman Drew Lieser fired the final 1 2/3 innings and did not allow a hit while striking out two batters.
            Missouri S&T completed the sweep in the nightcap with a 9-3 victory.
            WSC opened the scoring in the third when Noah Strizek doubled and scored on a Miner error.
            Missouri S&T then scored two runs in the third and fourth to grab the lead for good at 4-1.
            The 'Cats got one run back in the sixth when Heard walked and crossed home plate on a Cunningham single through the left side. 
            But the host Miners responded with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, on three infield hits and a Wildcat error, to push the lead to 6-2.
            WSC scored their final run in the eighth when Brayden Chaney had an infield single and later scored on a Missouri S& T error.  The host Miners posted three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to make the final score 9-3.
            Wayne State had nine hits in the contest, led by Cunningham going 2 for 4 with an RBI.  Strizek and Joe Dougherty each doubled.
            Starter Carson Obrecht (0-1) was tagged with the pitching loss, charged with four runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings.  Reliever Brooks Kneifl worked the next 2 2/3 innings and yielded two runs on four hits while senior Kadyn Van Hill finished the final two innings and allowed three runs on four hits.
            Wayne State is scheduled to open Northern Sun Conference play this weekend vs. St. Cloud State in a four-game series at Joplin, Missouri starting Friday weather permitting.