MIDLAND, Mich. -- The sixth-seeded Wayne State University baseball team (31-20) returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014 on Thursday night and lost 4-3 to third-seeded Quincy (33-20) at Gerace Stadium on the campus of Northwood University. The Hawks were the GLVC Tournament Champions and had won five straight contests entering the tournament.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Warriors struck quickly with two runs in the top of the first inning. After a
Griffin Harms (Bingham Farms, Mich. / Birmingham Groves) single,
Justin Kelly (Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton Warrenville South) doubled to right field before another RBI double from
JT Conti (Trenton, Mich.).
- Starter
Chris Horvath (Lakeshore, Ont.) was stellar, striking out the side in the second inning. Quincy touched Horvath for a run on one hit and two walks. A leadoff double in the fifth led to the game-tying run for the Hawks in the fifth inning but Horvath was able to strand two runners.
- Kelly crushed a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning to give the Warriors a 3-2 advantage. Horvath retired the first two hitters in thee bottom of the eighth inning but was replaced by Taylor Horn (Leo, Ind.) after a single. Horn allowed a single and walked back-to-back batters to allow the tying run to score.
- Quincy won the game in bottom of the ninth on an RBI double after an error and a sacrifice bunt.
AT THE PLATE
- Kelly led the WSU offense, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Conti posted a 2-for-3 performance with one RBI.
ON THE MOUND
- Horvath struck out nine over seven and 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits and three walks. Horn did not record an out and
Tyler Tompson (Farming, Mich.) (1-2) pitched 2/3 of an inning and allowed an unearned run.
UP NEXT
- The Warriors will meet second-seeded Southern Indiana on Friday at 1:30 p.m. The teams met earlier this season in Evansville, Ind. with the Green & Gold winning that contest 6-5.
