Following a thrilling one-run victory in 10 innings on May 7, the Wayne State College baseball team saw their postseason cut short one day later.
From the Sioux Falls Stadium in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, heartbreak hit the cats as #2 seed Augustana used eight and nine run innings to win 25-5 followed by #3 St. Cloud State getting up 11-0 early en route to a 19-5 victory over the third seeded Wildcats. Wayne State College ended their season at 30-22 overall.
During the afternoon loss against the Vikings, Augie held a slight 1-0 advantage after the first inning.
Wayne State College followed with a single run in the top of the second. Senior Kaden Young reached on an error scoring senior Quinn McCafferty.
The Vikings then added three runs in the home half of the third to lead 4-1.
WSC answered with another single run in the top of the fourth thanks to sophomore Brayden Chaney posting a sac-fly RBI bringing in sophomore Max Heard.
Augustana University began to pull away thanks to two runs in the bottom of the fourth, eight in the fifth and nine more runs in the sixth to lead 23-2.
Wayne State College would slow the bleeding down with two runs in the top of the seventh. senior Keagan McLaughlin recorded a two-RBI base hit driving in Chaney and Cannon.
The Vikings closed their scoring with two more runs a half of an inning later.
One last run crossed the plate for WSC in the top of the ninth when redshirt juniuor Cam Madsen added a sac-fly RBI scoring Cannon.
Final favored Augustana University winning 25-5 and outhitting Wayne State College, 21-5. The Vikings committed four errors compared to a pair of errors by WSC.
Max Heard singled, doubled and scored; Brayden Chaney singled, drove in a run and scored as Keegan McLaughlin singled and drove in two runs.
Senior Chase Douglas singled; Cam Madsen accounted for a RBI; Braden Cannon scored twice as Quinn McCafferty scored.
Senior Jackson Shelburne (71 pitches) suffered the loss in four innings allowing six runs (five earned) off seven hits while striking out one batter, walking two and hitting one.
Wayne native and senior Jacob Kneifl (20) didn't record an out allowing five earned runs off three hits while walking two batters. Junior Clement Febus (24) also didn't record an out allowing three earned runs off three hits while walking two batters.
Junior Adam Eggert (49) worked two innings allowing nine runs (eight earned) off six hits while striking out one batter, walking two and hitting one. Sophomore Braden Sweet (37) closed out the final two innings allowing two earned runs off two hits while walking three batters and hitting one.
During the elimination game, St. Cloud State jumped ahead scoring three runs in the top of the first followed by back-to-back four-run innings in the second and third to go up 11-0.
Wayne State College plated three runs during the home half of the third inning. Heard recorded a three-run homerun also driving in Madsen and Douglas.
Following a scoreless fourth, SCSU added six runs in the top of the fifth.
The Wildcats scored their final two runs of the tournament a half of an inning later. Senior Taylor Gill posted a two-RBI base hit driving in Young and Douglas.
The Huskies would go on to score once in the top of the sixth and one more run in the top of the ninth.
Final favored St. Cloud State eliminating Wayne State College, 19-5 while outhitting WSC, 18-6. SCSU committed two errors compared to one error by the 'Cats.
Kaden Young singled, doubled and scored as Max Heard used a three-run homerun.
Taylor Gill singled and drove in two runs; Chase Douglas singled and scored twice as Cam Madsen singled and scored.
Sophomore Kyler Hanson (44 pitches) suffered the loss in an inning and a third allowing five earned runs off six hits while striking out two batters and walking one.
Other pitchers used were sophomore Conlin Grady (43) worked an inning and a third, senior Eli Crnkovich (37) followed an inning and a third, junior Keinan Lentell (52) pitched three innings and senior Kadyn Van Hill (31) closed out the final two innings.
