Wayne State sweeps Bemidji State to extend win streak
Wayne State extended its winning streak to 10 games Saturday afternoon with 11-5 and 26-15 wins over Bemidji State in Northern Sun Conference baseball at the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex in Wayne. The Wildcats are now 18-9 and 10-4 in the NSIC while the Beavers drop to 5-19 and 2-11 in the league.
Wildcats pull away late in opener
The Wildcats used a six-run sixth inning to break away from a close contest to post an 11-5 victory in the opener.
Senior shortstop Nate Cunningham opened the game with a two-run homer to left in the first inning.
With Wayne State leading 2-1 in the fourth, Max Heard delivered a two-run double to put the Wildcats in front 4-1.
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Casey Prychak blasted a solo homer to right field in the fifth. After Bemidji State scored twice in the sixth to cut the Wayne State lead to 5-4, the Wildcats erupted for six runs on six hits to put the game out of reach. Cam Madsen's first career home run led off the inning followed by a solo shot from Heard. Cunningham, Paul Schuyler and Brayden Chaney each added RBI singles in the inning.
Wayne State ended the game with 14 hits, led by Heard going 3 for 5 with a homer and two doubles. Schuyler added three hits, going 3 for 4, while Prychak and Cunningham each homered and recorded two hits and two RBI.
Freshman starter Tyler Albert worked five strong innings for the win, now 5-1 on the year. He allowed eight hits and four runs with six strikeouts. Jace Coleman and Grant Renken each worked one inning of relief.
Wayne State rallies in 26-15 slugfest
The second game saw the Wildcats rally from a 15-11 deficit by scoring 15 unanswered runs in a 26-15 slugfest that featured a combined seven home runs to go with 18 walks from the two teams.
Bemidji State scored two or more runs in the first five innings and held a 15-11 lead after 4 1/2 innings. Wayne State tried keeping pace with two runs in the first, six in the second and three in the fourth.
The Wildcats took the lead for good with a seven-run fifth inning on just four hits. Heard had an inside-the-park home run to right field to start the scoring. Easton Mains had a two-run single with Braden Cannon adding a run-scoring single as the Wildcats took advantage of three walks and two hit batters in the inning.
An eight-run seventh inning capped Wayne State's offensive surge to end the game. Prychak ended the contest with a two-run homer to right field. Gabe Monosmith had a two-run double with Cannon delivering a two-run single.
Wayne State ended the contest with 16 hits. Heard was 3 for 4 with three RBI and four runs scored, including a homer. Cannon was 3 for 6 with five RBI, while Monosmith was 2 for 3 with four RBI and three runs scored. Cunningham had a 2 for 5 game with four RBI, including his ninth homer of the year. Prychak added two hits, including his sixth long ball of the season.
Sophomore reliever Brooks Kneifl, the fourth of four Wildcat pitchers, earned the win in relief, working the final 3 1/3 innings and giving up five hits and two unearned runs with one strikeout to move to 1-0 on the season.
The two teams close out their three-game NSIC series Sunday afternoon with a nine-inning game starting at 12 p.m.
