MT. PLEASANT, S.C. -- The Wayne State University baseball program (2-1 overall) continued the early portion of its schedule on Friday afternoon with 3-1 defeat by Kentucky Wesleyan (1-3 overall). It was the first of four games between the team this weekend and the series is being played at Shipyard Park in South Carolina.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Warriors trailed early after Panthers took a 1-0 lead with a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning. WSU left the bases loaded in the top of the second inning following a single from redshirt sophomore
Hunter DeLanoy (Hartland, Mich.), a hit-by-pitch and a walk to redshirt sophomore
Chris Tanderys (Livonia, Mich. / Stevenson). KWC added two runs in the bottom of the second inning on three hits.
The Green & Gold looked poised to break through in the top of the fifth inning as redshirt sophomore
Ryan Foley (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Saline) sent a one-out double into right center and junior
Jacob Finkbeiner (Saline, Mich.) followed with a walk. However, the next two batters were retired as WSU was unable to find the run column. A 6-4-3 double play aided Wayne State in escaping the bottom of the fifth inning that saw the Panthers put three runners on base.
DeLanoy began the eighth inning with an infield single and advanced to second base on a wild pitch but the next two batters went down via strikes to end the frame. Foley drew a two-out walk and Finkbeiner singled through the left side before Foley swiped third base. Junior
Michael MacLean (Bloomfield Hills, Mich. / Country Day / The Lawrenceville School) plated the team's first win with an RBI single to left center to make it 3-1. The comeback attempt ended as DeLanoy struck out swinging to end the game.
AT THE PLATE
Both MacLean and DeLanoy finished with two hits, while MacLean drove in WSU's lone run. Foley scored that run and stole a base.
ON THE MOUND
Graduate
Austin Atwood (Dearborn, Mich. / Edsel Ford) (0-1) allowed three earned runs in four innings and struck out five batters in his WSU debut. Also making his Wayne State debut was redshirt freshman
Joey Muzljakovich (Mayfield, Mich. / Traverse City St. Francis) and he worked a scoreless inning and 2/3 with a strikeout and two walks. Senior
Matt Krutsch (Essex, Ont. / Essex District) did not allow a run and struck out three batters in his two and 1.3 innings of relief.
UP NEXT
The Warriors and Panthers will play twice on Saturday beginning at noon.