Wayne State built a 5-1 lead, then held off a late William Jewell rally to claim a 7-5 non-conference win over William Jewell Tuesday afternoon in college baseball action at Liberty, Mo.
The Wildcats used two hits and three Cardinal errors to take a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Bodie Cooper scored on a failed pickoff attempt, and Jake Lemar singled home David Janes, who reached on an error, for the Wildcats’ second run.
In the fourth, Wayne State doubled its advantage thanks to an RBI triple by Peyton Barnes, scoring Janes, and a Tandon Dorn single that plated Barnes.
William Jewell got a run in the bottom of the sixth, but Wayne State came up with two more to take a 6-1 lead, thanks to RBI singles by Aaron Krier and Tanner Simons.
William Jewelll got within two at 6-4 with three runs in the eight, but Wayne State got an insurance run in the ninth when Dorn singled home Barnes. William Jewell scored a run and had the tying run on base with two outs, but reliever Bobby St. Pierre shut the door on the comeback to give the visiting Wildcats the win.
Wayne State outhit William Jewell 15-13 in the contest. COdy Jenkins and Jackson Petersen each had three hits and Barnes was 2-for-4 with a triple and a double and two runs scored. Dorn and Krier both had two hits as well.
Taner Ledezma pithced six strong innings to get the win, allowing seven hits and striking out three. Kyle Kennebeck and Joey Lenihan came on in relief, with St. Pierre finishing off the game to get the save.
Wayne State (6-9, 1-3 NSIC) returns to Northern Sun Conference play this weekend, hosting St. Cloud State in a four-game series with doubleheaders set for 12 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at the Chapman Complex.
