The Wayne State baseball team made it a perfect weekend, following up Friday’s doubleheader sweep of Bemidji State with a sweep of Minnesota Duluth in a three-game set at the Chapman Complex.
On Saturday, Wayne State’s top four batters recorded 13 of the team’s 15 hits on the day to lead the Wildcats in a 8-3 and 2-1 sweep over the Bulldogs.
The first game saw Alex Logelin and Kyle Thompson combine for five hits, three RBI and four runs scored to power the Wildcats.
Wayne State struck early with two runs in the first and three more in the second for a 5-0 lead to set the tone in the opener. Logelin and Thompson each doubled in the first with Andrew Hanson adding an RBI single.
In the second, Brendan Madsen doubled and scored on a Duluth throwing error after stealing third. Logelin doubled down the left field line on a 13-pitch at bat and scored on Thompson’s RBI single up the middle with Thompson later scoring on a throwing error from a failed pickoff attempt.
The Bulldogs got on the board with a single run in the third along with two in the fifth, but Wayne State scored single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to put the game out of reach.
In the fourth, Madsen walked and scored on a Bryce Bisenius single. The fifth inning run was a result of Andrew Hanson reaching on an error and scoring on a bases-loaded hit batter with the run in the sixth coming on a bases-loaded walk to Jake Lorenzini that scored pinch runner Colin Chick.
The Wildcats had nine hits in the win, led by Thompson going 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Logelin was 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored while Madsen also doubled. Aidan Breedlove (4-2) fired five strong innings to earn the win, fanning five batters while allowing five hits and three runs.
All the scoring was done in the first two innings of the nightcap as the Wildcats held on for the twinbill sweep.
Both teams scored in the first, with Wayne State producing the game’s final run in the bottom of the second. Logelin doubled in the first and scored on Thompson’s RBI single to left field, while Garrett Graveline walked and scored on Madsen’s RBI single in the second.
Minnesota Duluth had two innings when they left multiple runners stranded, and starter Hunter Wienhoff got out of the jams in the sixth and seventh innings.
Bisenius led a six-hit effort, going 2-for-4 with a pair of singles while Logelin had the game’s lone extra base hit, a double. Madsen, Thompson and CJ Neumann each singled. Wienhoff worked seven long innings to notch the win, throwing 139 pitches. He gave up four hits and one run while walking six and striking out seven. Aaron Ras worked a perfect inning of relief and Charles Hasty pitched the ninth to earn his third save, striking out two and walking one batter.
On Sunday, Wayne State provided late-game drama to finish off the three-game sweep of the Bulldogs, using three ninth-inning walks to post a 4-3 win.
The Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third as they finally found some success against Lawson Zenner. With runners on second and third with an out, Tyler Wojciechowski found a gap to left field for a two-RBI single.
The Wildcats matched Minnesota Duluth in the bottom of the inning, grabbing two runs back to even the score. A stolen base from Brendan Madsen and two balks sent the junior home before an Andrew Hanson double brought Kyle Thompson around to send the game to 2-2 into the top of the fourth.
After Lawson Zenner’s fifth strikeout of the afternoon in the top of the fifth, the Bulldogs rallied for three straight singles to grab another run and go on top 3-2.
Wayne State again matched scores with Minnesota Duluth to bring the score to 3-3. Alex Logelin’s singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on an error, setting up Thompson, who singled to right to tie the game.
Andrew Staebell pitched three innings of relief before Ras came on in the ninth and kept the game tied, setting up the Wildcats’ ninth-inning heroics.
The Wildcat offense moved Lorenzini, who doubled to start the rally, to third on a sacrifice bunt, forcing the Bulldogs into two straight intentional walks to load the bases. Bisenius stepped up to the plate, forcing a five-pitch walk to end the game and complete the series sweep over the Bulldogs.
Hanson led the Wildcats offensively, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI. Thompson also added an RBI on 2-for-3 hitting, while Bisenius earned an RBI on his ninth-inning walk.
Ras was credited with the win, moving his record to 2-1 on the season.
The Wildcats (13-7, 4-3 NSIC) are back in action Wednesday at the Chapman Complex, hosting University of Mary in a 12 p.m. doubleheader.
