April 30, 2009
Game 1 - #24 Wayne State 6 St. Cloud State 5
Game 2 - #24 Wayne State 7 St. Cloud State 1
#24 Wayne State defeated St. Cloud State by the scores of 6-5 and 7-1 to sweep an NSIC double-header on Thursday afternoon in Wayne. The Wildcats rallied late for a 6-5 win in game one and cruised to a 7-1 win over the Huskies in game two. With the wins, Wayne State improved to 35-11 overall and 23-4 in the NSIC. St. Cloud State dropped to 35-14 overall with a 14-9 mark in the NSIC with the losses.
St. Cloud State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning in game one. The Huskies used a single, walk and hit batter to load the bases with just one out. Nate Hammes then delivered a sacrifice fly which scored Kyle Gold to give the Huskies the 1-0 lead. The Wildcats responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the first to take a 3-1 lead. Joe Wendte’s RBI double and Alex Koch’s RBI double highlighted the three-run first for the ‘Cats. St. Cloud State answered with a single run in the second inning on an RBI ground ball off the bat of Joe Kroc which scored Jared Johnson, who doubled to lead off the inning. The Huskies tied the game at 3-3 with another run in the third on a solo homer by Hammes. With the score still tied at 3-3, St. Cloud State’s Lauren Green gave the Huskies a 5-3 lead with a two-run homer to right field in the fifth inning. The score remained the same until the bottom of the seventh, when Wayne State plated three runs. With one out, Justin Hemauer singled to start the Wildcat rally. Eric Bond then walked to put runners at first and second. Joe Wendte followed with a two-run triple down the right field line to tie the game at 5-5. Treye Hacker and Koch were both intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. WSC’s Mike Bisenius then delivered the game-winning sacrifice fly to score Wendte for the exciting 6-5 win for the ‘Cats.
SCSU had 10 hits in game one compared to eight for WSC. Joe Wendte went 3 for 4 with three RBI’s and two runs scored to lead the way offensively for the ‘Cats in game one. Alex Koch went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored for WSC. Matt Meier (4-0) earned the win in relief for Wayne State. Meier allowed no runs on just one hit with two strikeouts in three innings of work. Josh Voth started the game for the Wildcats and allowed five runs on nine hits with one walk and three strikeouts in four innings pitched. Nate Hammes and Lauren Green each homered and drove in two runs apiece for the Huskies. Tim Radmacher (2-3) took the loss on the mound for SCSU. Radmacher allowed six runs on eight hits with four walks and four strikeouts for the Huskies.
In game two, freshman left hander Eric Schwieger allowed just one run and two hits in five innings of work as the ‘Cats cruised to the 7-1 win. St. Cloud State took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on the second solo homer of the day by Nate Hammes. Wayne State responded quickly with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs, Bisenius walked and scored on Nick Bidroski’s RBI double to tie the game at 1-1. Wildcat catcher John Plasha followed with a two-run homer to give the ‘Cats a 3-1 lead. Eric Bond added a solo homer for the ‘Cats in the third inning to give WSC a 4-1 lead. The solo shot was Bond’s team-high 12th homer of the year. WSC tacked on another run in the fourth inning on an RBI double by Plasha which gave Wayne State a 5-1 lead. Treye Hacker added an RBI ground out in the fifth inning to give the ‘Cats a 6-1 lead. WSC scored again in the sixth inning, using just one hit and an RBI bunt by Brandon Polk for the final score of 7-1.
The ‘Cats had nine hits in game two while St. Cloud State managed just three hits in the game John Plasha went 3 for 3 with a homer and three RBI’s to lead WSC offensively, and Eric Bond went 2 for 3 with a homer for WSC. Eric Schwieger (6-0) was solid on the mound. The 6-8 lefty from Grand Island allowed just one run on two hits with one walk and five strikeouts in five innings of work. Jared Hegdahl worked the final two innings for WSC and allowed just one hit with two strikeouts. Nate Johnson, Mick Johnson each had hits, and Nate Hammes added his second homer of the day for SCSU in the loss. Nate Anderson (2-2) suffered the loss on the mound for the Huskies. Anderson allowed four runs on five hits with one walk and one strikeout in three innings of work.
Wayne State will conclude conference play on the road with double-headers at Minnesota, Crookston this Saturday and Sunday. Games are set to begin at noon each day in Crookston, Minnesota.