Adelphi University of New York built a 7-1 lead, then held off a late Wayne State rally to down the Wildcats 7-5 Saturday afternoon in non-conference baseball played in Cary, North Carolina at the USA Baseball Training Complex.  WSC drops to 8-9 with the loss while the Panthers move to 2-3 on the young season.
            Wayne State opened the scoring in the top of the first with an unearned run as senior outfielder Cam Madsen opened the game reaching on an Adelphi error and later scoring on an RBI double to left field by first baseman Gabe Monosmith giving the 'Cats an early 1-0 advantage.
            The Panthers countered with three runs in the bottom of the frame, using two hits while taking advantage of one Wayne State error along with two walks and a hit batter to grab a 3-1 lead.
            Adelphi added another run in the fourth and plated three runs in the fifth thanks to just one hit, making the most from two walks and a hit batter, to push the lead to 7-1.
            The Wildcats started their rally in the seventh scoring two runs with two outs and no runners on base.  Noah Strizek singled to left field, Madsen reached on a Panther error and Paul Schuyler walked to load the bases.  Max Heard then delivered a two-run single to right field scoring Strizek and Madsen cutting the Adelphi advantage to 7-3.
            WSC added another run in the eighth as Nate Cunningham singled, stole second and third base and scored on a two-out single to right field by Casey Prychak making the score 7-4.
            In the ninth, Gabe Monosmith was hit by the pitch and pinch-runner Adam Eggert scored on a Cunningham double to left reducing the deficit to 7-5.  WSC got the tying run at the plate with two outs but could not get another runner on base as the rally fell short and Adelphi held on for the 7-5 win.
            Adelphi had one more hit in the contest than WSC 8-7.  Cunningham had two hits, going 2 for 4 with a double and RBI and two stolen bases.  Monosmith had the other extra base hit for the 'Cats with a double and RBI.  Heard added a two-run single while Prychak had an RBI single.
            Freshman starter Drew Lieser (0-1) was tagged with the pitching loss in four innings of work, allowing four runs on five hits.  Reliever Grant Renken worked one inning, charged with three runs on one hit.  Sophomore Carson Obrecht fired one inning of hitless relief with a pair of strikeouts while senior Clement Febus tossed two innings of scoreless relief, giving up two hits with one strikeout.
            Wayne State will close out their trip to Cary, North Carolina with two games on Sunday, facing St. Anselm College of New Hampshire at 8 a.m. Central Time and Dominican University of New York at 12 p.m. Central Time.