DETROIT -- The Wayne State University baseball team (20-10 overall, 12-6 GLIAC) fell twice to visiting Davenport (20-14 overall, 13-9 GLIAC) on Saturday afternoon.
GAME ONE (L, 5-8)
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers started the scoring in the top of the first with a pair of runs on two hits and an error. However, the Warriors were quick to answer in the bottom of the first inning as senior Jacob Finkbeiner (Saline, Mich.) connected for a two-run home run over the Green Monster in left field to tie the game at 2-2.
A single and an error propelled DU to a run in the top of the second inning and the visitors stretched their lead to 4-2 with another run in the top of the third inning.
Junior Noah Miller (Macomb, Mich. / University Liggett) walked to begin the bottom of the third inning before redshirt junior Ryan Foley (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Saline) sent a single into center field. Finkbeiner continued to carry the WSU offense with a two-run triple into right center, tying the game at 4-4. A sacrifice flt off the bat of redshirt junior Hunter DeLanoy (Hartland, Mich.) pushed Wayne State ahead 5-4 after three innings.
The dangerous Davenport bats came alive again in the top of the fifth inning with two runs on three hits and a walk. A Noah Marcoux home run in the seventh sealed the win for the Panthers, 8-5.
AT THE PLATE
Both Foley and Finkbeiner had two hits, while Finkbeiner drove in four of WSU's five runs.
ON THE MOUND
Graduate student Dillon McInerney (Richmond, Mich.) (5-2) worked all seven innings and allowed eight runs (five earned) on nine hits, two hit batters and a walk. He struck out two.
GAME TWO (L, 3-5)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Travis Harvey staked DU to an early 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the top of the first. Junior Rudy Ramirez (Brighton, Mich.) singled to start the bottom of the second inning and advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt before scoring on a groundout from senior Ryne Travis (Lockport, Ill. / Lockport Twp.).
Davenport broke through for three runs on four hits, including two doubles, to take a 4-1 run lead after four innings. RBI from Foley and Finkbeiner trimmed the DU advantage to 4-3 but a seventh inning Nolan Anspaugh big fly gave the Panthers a 5-3 lead.
The Green & Gold had back-to-back two out singles in the bottom of the eighth from graduate student Michael MacLean (Bloomfield Hills, Mich. / Country Day / The Lawrenceville School) and Ramirez but were unable to create any more offense. Wayne State also put two runners on in the bottom of the ninth inning but a 4-6-3 double play ended the threat and the game.
AT THE PLATE
Freshman CJ Maury (Brampton, Ont. / Mayfield SS) went 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Ramirez also had two hits.
ON THE MOUND
Senior Nicholas O'Dea (Livonia, Mich. / Detroit Catholic Central) threw 124 pitches and went the distance, allowing five runs and collecting a career-best 11 strikeouts.
UP NEXT
The Green & Gold are scheduled to play twice versus the Panthers on Sunday with game one starting at noon, weather permitting Game one will be seven innings, while game two is set for nine innings.
