WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- The Wayne State University baseball program (1-1 overall) split an Opening Day doubleheader against Kentucky Wesleyan (3-4 overall) on Sunday in the RussMatt Invitational in Florida.  WSU dropped game one 6-2 before winning game two 10-4.

GAME ONE (L, 2-6)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Nolan Dill (Bowling Green, Ohio) (0-1) gave up a two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning for the first runs of the game but Wayne State answered with a pair of runs to tie the game in the top of the third inning on a two-run double from JT Conti (Trenton, Mich.).  The Panthers used a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third inning to break the tie and added a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth inning.

- In the seventh and final frame, Conti reached with a one-out single down the left field line and Justin Kelly (Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton Warrenville South) followed with a base hit to left center but the rally would end there as the next two batters were retired.

AT THE PLATE
- Conti went 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Kelly and Tristen Jorah (Clinton Twp., Mich. / Sterling Heights Stevenson) posted two-hit games.

ON THE MOUND
- Dill allowed three runs in four innings and struckout three batters Josh Nelson (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Saline) tossed the final two innings, allowing three earned runs.

GAME TWO (W, 10-4)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- WSU jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs on a Conti single.  Devin Rose (Farmington Hills, Mich. / Orchard Lake St. Mary's) singled to begin the inning and stole second to ignite the scoring.  Troy Daring, Jr. (Brampton, Ont.) added a run with a sac fly to to left field to plate Conti.

- Three Panther hits including a two-run home run in the top of the second inning produced three runs.  Kelly was able to slow the rally by throwing out a potential base stealer at second base.  KWC took a 4-3 lead on a sac fly in the top of the third inning.  The Panthers threatened again in the top of the fourth inning with two hits but Taylor Horn (Leo, Ind.) (1-0) was summoned from the bullpen and escaped the inning without allowing any damage.

- The Warriors exploded for seven runs on seven hits and two KWC errors to regain the lead.  Jacob Finkbeiner (Saline, Mich.), Conti, Jorah and Michael MacLean (Bloomfield Hills, Mich. / Country Day) all drove in runs during the outburst.

AT THE PLATE
- Conti finished the day with his second three-hit game and drove in three runs.  Kelly, Daring and Jorah all notched two-hit games.  Rose, Ryan Mergener (Portage, Mich. / Portage Central) and Conti scored two runs each.

ON THE MOUND
- Hunter Brown (St. Clair Shores, Mich. / Lakeview) started and went 3 and a 1/3 innings, allowing four earned runs.  Horn did not allow a baserunner in his three and 2/3 innings of work and struck out five batters.

UP NEXT
- WSU will conclude the three-game series against KWC on Monday with a nine-inning tilt beginning at 1:00 p.m.