DETROIT -- The Wayne State University baseball team (10-13, 4-6 GLIAC) battled cool and rainy conditions on Friday to earn a doubleheader split against #18 Grand Valley State (14-9, 6-4 GLIAC). The Lakers used a four-run first inning to win game one 5-0 before the Warriors responded with a 5-4 game two win as pinch-runner
Kevin Moore (Detroit, Mich. / Renaissance) crossed the plate on a game-ending GVSU error.
Game One (L, 0-5)Grand Valley State scored four runs on two hits and a WSU error in the top of the first inning including a three-run home run by Jason Ribecky. The Lakers added their fifth and final run of the contest in the top of the second inning on a Kevin Zak double.
Alex Kinch (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Pioneer) (2-2) settled in and did not allow a run over the next five innings. He walked five batters while striking out five.
GVSU starter Patrick Kelly (3-1) retired the final 13 batters on his way to the victory. WSU managed just three hits in the series opener.
Game Two (W, 5-4)The Warriors struck first in game two with two runs on one hit.
Bradley Baldwin (Troy, Mich. / Bishop Foley Catholic) gave WSU a 1-0 lead with an RBI single through the right side. The second run scored on a GVSU 4-6-3 double play.
Game two starter
JT Conti (Trenton, Mich.) was impressive in his first collegiate start. He allowed just one earned run on three hits and struck out five.
Devin Rose (Farmington Hills, Mich. / Orchard Lake St. Mary's) extended the home lead to 3-0 with an RBI single into left field in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The Lakers tied the game at 3-3 with three runs on four hits in the top of the sixth inning.
Chris Horvath (Lakeshore, Ont. / St. Anne Catholic) replaced Conti on the mound after a leadoff double. Horvath recorded two outs before
Jeff Sorenson (Livonia, Mich. / Stevenson) (2-2) entered into a base-loaded jam. Sorenson struck out Zak to end the inning and limit the damage.
Another RBI from Rose gave the Warriors a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning.
A WSU throwing error allowed GVSU to tie the game at 4-4 in the top of the seventh inning. Both teams were held quiet in the eighth inning. Sorenson retired the side in order in the top of the ninth inning.
Spencer Church (Windsor, Ont. / Holy Names) began the bottom of the ninth inning with a pinch-hit single into right. Moore replaced Church on first base and advanced to second on a balk.
Nathan Manis (Port Huron, Mich. / Port Huron Northern) dropped down a bunt single and a throwing error on the play allowed Moore to race around for the game-winning run.
Sorenson finished with two strikeouts in three 1/3 innings while allowing one unearned run. Rose paced the Green & Gold offense with a 3-for-3 performance with two RBI.