Box Score CANTON, Ohio -- The Wayne State University baseball team (16-9, 5-5 GLIAC) wrapped up its series at Malone (13-14, 8-4 GLIAC) on Wednesday afternoon at Thurman Munson Stadium. The Pioneers took the series with a thrilling 8-7 victory in 11 innings. The final score was the only time Malone would lead the entire contest. WSU lead 3-0, 4-2, 5-4, 6-5 and 7-6 before giving up a walk-off, two-run single in the bottom of the 11th inning.
The Warriors scored three runs on one hit and a Pioneer error in the top of the first inning.
Spencer Church (Windsor, Ont. / Holy Names) capped the scoring with an RBI double to right field.
An error and a double to left center allowed Malone to get on the board with a sacrifice fly. Ryan Froman followed with an RBI single to left field to trim the Warriors' lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the second inning. Starting pitcher
Jimmy Jackson (Battle Creek, Mich. / Pennfield) was able to escape the inning with the lead thanks to a 4-6-3 double play.
Zach Johnson (Grandville, Mich.) doubled to left field following a walk to
Kyle Zimmerman (Frankfort, Mich.) to begin the third inning. Church drove home another run with a sacrifice fly to center field, extending the Warriors' lead to 4-2.
Malone tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Cole Clifton (Sterling Heights. Mich. / De La Salle) broke the 4-4 tie with an RBI single to left field in top of the sixth inning.
Jake Davis (Rochester, Mich. / Stoney Creek) came into the game to begin the bottom of the sixth inning. He tossed a scoreless frame before allowing the game-tying run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Chris Horvath (Windsor, Ont. / St. Anne Catholic) took over on the mound in the eighth inning. Malone put runners at the corners with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Clayton Ruch (Pemberville, Ohio / Eastwood) (2-1) was summoned to collect the final out of the inning and was able to do so on a strikeout.
An error charged to the Malone shortstop allowed Clifton to reach base in the top of the ninth inning.
Eric Cunningham (LaSalle, Ont. / St. Thomas of Villanova) followed with a single through the left side before
Zach Johnson (Grandville, Mich.) gave the Warriors the lead with an RBI single to right field.
Malone tied the game, 6-6, on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the ninth inning. A play at the plate kept the game tied in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Jeremy Carrell (St. Clair, Mich.) singled to begin the 11th inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. An intentional walk to Cunningham brought Zimmerman to the plate and he was drilled to load the bases. Once again, Johnson gave the Warriors the lead, 7-6, with a sacrifice fly to left field.
The Pioneers loaded the bases in the bottom of the 11th inning. A two-run single from Jon Crank sent Malone home the victors, 8-7.
WSU will return to Midtown for a three-game series with Northwood beginning on Saturday with a doubleheader at 1 PM.
