Box Score 1 | Box Score 2             Fighting for playoff position, the Wayne State baseball team scored an important road sweep in Northern Sun Conference baseball Wednesday afternoon posting 5-3 and 4-2 wins at Northern State.  The 'Cats are now in solo possession of seventh place in the NSIC at 18-16 in the league and 26-21 overall while Northern State slips to 12-27 and 10-24 in conference play.
            The opener saw freshman starter Tyler Albert toss his second complete game of the season while leading the Wildcats to a 5-3 victory over the Wolves.
            The 'Cats scored single runs in the first three innings then added a pair of runs in the fourth.
            WSC scored first when Easton Mains led off the game with a walk, then stole second and third base and scored on a sacrifice fly from Gabe Monosmith for a 1-0 Wildcat lead.
            After Northern State tied the game with a run in the bottom of the first, Wayne State answered with a run in the top of the second when Braden Cannon was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a Korey Cozad single and scored on a passed ball and error by the Wolves catcher.
            Wayne State pushed the lead to 3-1 in the third when Mains opened with a double and touched home plate on another sacrifice fly from Monosmith.
            The Wolves cut the deficit to 3-2 with a single run in the bottom of the third, but WSC responded in the top of the fourth with a pair of runs making the score 5-2.  Freshman second baseman Tony Coniglio and Mains each belted solo homers over the left field fence with two outs giving the 'Cats a three-run cushion. 
            Northern State was able to get one run back in the fifth cutting the WSC lead to 5-3, but Albert did not allow another base runner as he retired the next six batters in order to close the complete-game win.
            WSC ended the game with eight hits.  Mains went 2 for 3 with a homer, double and three runs scored with two stolen bases.  Nate Cunningham was 2 for 3 with a double while Cozad had a pair of singles going 2 for 2.  Coniglio homered while Casey Prychak singled.
            Albert improved to 7-3 on the season with the complete-game effort.  He gave up three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and one walk.
            The second contest saw seven Wildcat pitchers combined to hold the Wolves to just two runs on six hits as Wayne State completed the sweep with a 4-2 win.          
            WSC produced a pair of runs in the second to take the early 2-0 advantage.  Cunningham was hit by the pitch and Coniglio followed with a bunt single.  Cannon then singled through the right side scoring Cunningham with Coniglio reaching home on a Wolves error.
            Northern State scored their first run of the game in the fourth, making the score 2-1. 
            Two more runs for WSC in the sixth inning put the 'Cats in front 4-1.  Cunningham opened with a single and later scored on a perfect bunt to the right side by Cannon that was an RBI single.  Coniglio walked and later scored on a bases loaded walk to Prychak giving WSC the 4-1 advantage. 
            Northern State closed the scoring with a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh to make the score 4-2.
            Cannon was 2 for 3 with a pair of singles and two RBI to lead the 'Cats in the second game.  Prychak also had a pair of singles and an RBI. 
            Kyler Hanson (2-2) was the first of seven WSC pitchers in the game, working two innings along with Kadyn Van Hill.  Conlin Grady, Matthias Tronsdon, Jace Coleman, Brooks Kneifl and Cannon each worked one inning with Cannon notching his seventh save of the season – tied for first in the NSIC – and the 34^th of his Wildcat career. 
            The 'Cats conclude the NSIC regular season at home this weekend hosting the University of Jamestown in a three-game series with a doubleheader Friday at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. and a nine-inning game Saturday starting at 12 p.m.