It was a heartbreaking finish to a tough four-game series for the Wayne State baseball team, as Minot State was able to escape the Chapman Complex with two more close wins Friday to sweep a four-game series.
The Beavers, currently a game behind Northern Sun Conference leader Augustana, came away with two more close wins as their series with Wayne State was moved here due to weather conditions in North Dakota, finishing the series Friday with 7-6 and 5-3 wins over the Wildcats.
In the opener, Wayne State held a 4-2 lead and broke a 5-5 tie with a run in the top of the seventh, only to see the Beavers come back in the bottom of the seventh with two runs to claim the come-from-behind win.
Wayne State took a 4-2 lead in the third on the strength of a two-run single by Travis Miller and RBI singles by Bryce Bisenius and David Janes.
The Wildcats extended their lead to 5-2 in the fifth on another Bisenius RBI single, but the Beavers scored two in the fifth and one in the sixth to tie the game at 5-5.
Back-to-back doubles by Bisenius and Miller in the top of the seventh gave Wayne State the lead again at 6-5, but the Beavers came back with two in the last of the seventh to finish off their third straight one-run win over the Wildcats after winning both of Thursday’s games by a single run.
Bisenius went 3-for-4 with two RBI to lead a nine-hit Wildcat attack, while Miller went 2-for-4 with three RBI. Janes, Hanson, Garrett Garveline and Jackson Petersen also had hits. Starter Hunter Wienhoff worked five innings and struck out seven while allowing four runs on six hits. Lawson Zenner was the tough-luck loser, working the seventh and giving up the two winning runs.
In the nightcap, Wayne State scored a run in the second and two more in the third to build a 3-0 lead, only to see the Beavers come back once again to claim the win and the series sweep.
Peyton Barnes doubled home Miller with the first run of the game for Wayne State in the second. In the third, Miller doubled down the left field lines to score Janes, and Bisenius later scored on a bases-loaded walk.
Minot State came back with two in the fourth and one in the fifth to tie the game, then added single runs in the seventh and eight to come away with the win.
Graveline and Janes each had two hits to lead Wayne State’s eight-hit effort. Spencer Johnson took the loss in relief of starter Charles Hasty and reliever Jordan Mehl.
Wayne State (8-14, 6-6 NSIC) will visit Winona State Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. for an NSIC doubleheader.
