Moving into doubleheader format, the Wayne State College baseball team competed against a pair of Pennsylvania teams on Sunday.
From Northeast Regional Park in Davenport, Florida, the Russ Matt Invitational showcased nine-inning match-ups against Gannon (PA) and Point Park (PA).
Wayne State College started with an 8-2 victory over Gannon followed by a 9-5 loss against Point Park. The Wildcats are now 3-8 on the season.
In the win over Gannon, scoring began with Wayne State College plating a run in the top of the third. Sophomore Max Heard drove in junior Casey Prychak.
WSC added two more runs in the top of the fourth to lead 3-0. Redshirt freshman Connor Hunt tripled scoring both junior Braden Cannon and Young.
Gannon answered back with a single run in the bottom of the fourth.
The Wildcats would extend their lead with a run in the top of the fifth with senior Chase Douglas stealing home.
Gannon followed with their own single run in the bottom of the sixth.
Wayne State College brought in three runs during the seventh. Redshirt sophomore Noah Strizek first recorded a solo homerun, Heard doubled in Douglas as Cannon reached on a fielder’s choice driving in Heard.
Following a scoreless eighth, WSC plated one more run in the top of the ninth. Senior Quinn McCafferty posted a sac-fly scoring Heard.
Final favored Wayne State College winning 8-2 and outhitting Gannon, 7-6 while committing two errors compared to one by their opponent.
Max Heard singled, doubled, drove in two runs and scored twice; Noah Strizek posted a solo homerun; Kaden Hunt tripled and drove in two runs as Kaden Young doubled and scored.
Braden Cannon singled, drove in a run and scored; Quinn McCafferty singled and drove in a run; Chase Douglas scored twice as Casey Prychak scored.
Senior Kadyn Van Hill (pitch count NA) picked up the win in three innings of relief allowing an earned run off four hits while striking out three batters.
Junior Clay Beaumont started the opening four innings allowing one run off two hits while striking out five batters, walking one and hitting one. Senior Eli Crnkovich closed out the final two innings striking out two batters.
During the loss against Point Park, scoring took place early for Point Park with a six-run bottom of the first inning.
Following a scoreless second, Wayne State College brought in two runs. Heard recorded a ground out RBI scoring Strizek followed by a senior Taylor Gill RBI single scoring Douglas.
Neither team scored in the fourth as Point Park tallied one run in the bottom of the fifth.
The Wildcats brought the game within two runs after Strizek recorded a RBI ground out scoring McCafferty and redshirt junior Cam Madsen followed with a two RBI single scoring both junior Nate Cunningham and Young making the score 7-5.
Point Park tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Final favored Point Park winning 9-5 and outhitting Wayne State College, 12-11 while committing zero errors compared to a pair by WSC.
Cam Madsen singled three times and drove in two runs; Taylor Gill singled twice and drove in a run as Kaden Young and Nate Cunningham both singled twice and scored.
Max Heard singled, drove in a run and scored; Chase Douglas singled and scored; Max Heard accounted for a RBI as Quinn McCafferty scored.
Sophomore Conlin Grady (pitch count NA) suffered the loss in a third of an inning allowing six runs (four earned) off four hits while striking out, walking and hitting one batter each.
Junior Keinan Lentell followed with three innings allowing four hits while striking out and walking one batter each. Senior Jacob Kneifl worked an inning and two-thirds allowing an earned run while striking out one batter, walking two and hitting one. Junior Clement Febus pitched two innings allowing two earned runs off three hits while striking out two batters and walking one. Braden Cannon closed out the final inning allowing one hit while striking out one batter.
