The Wayne State baseball team split a Northern Sun Conference baseball doubleheader Friday evening on the road at University of Sioux Falls, losing the opener 12-6 and taking the nightcap 3-1 at Sioux Falls Stadium as the host Cougars won the opener 12-6 followed by a 3-1 Wildcat win in the second game.
The opener saw the host Cougars take a 5-0 lead after three innings and cruise to the easy win, chasing Wildcat starter Aiden Breedlove after three innings.
Wayne State got on the board with two runs in the fifth as Bodie Cooper doubled and scored on a Peyton Barnes RBI single, with the second run coming on a Jackson Petersen RBI groundout that scored Tandon Dorn.
The Cougars put the game out of reach with three runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth for a 12-2 lead. Wayne State got four in the sixth, three coming on a home run by David Janes. Petersen drove home the final run with a groundout.
Janes went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI while Cody Jenkins was 2-for-4 with a double. Cooper added a double while Aaron Krier and Barnes each singled. Breedlove took the loss, giving up five runs in three innings.
Wayne State’s pitching helped the Wildcats manage a split on the day, as Taner Ledezma worked six strong innings and gave up one run on six hits while Keenan Breen and Kyle Kennebek came on in relief.
Wayne State got two in the third as Aaron Krier led off the inning with a homer and Kyle Thompson singled home Cody Jenkins. After Sioux Falls got a run in the fourth, Wayne State got an insurance run in the fifth when Tanner Simons singled home Petersen.
Krier was 2 for 5 with a homer to lead a seven-hit attack. Simons and Thompson each had RBI singles while Petersen, Janes and Jake Lemar all singled. Ledezma got the win, with Kennebeck picking up his eighth save.
Wayne State (26-22, 21-15 NSIC) and Sioux Falls meet again Saturday in a noon doubleheader at Sioux Falls Stadium.
