CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- The Wayne State University baseball team (6-2) began play in the Perfect Game Tournament with games against UMSL (0-4) and Illinois-Springfield (4-3) on Friday. The Warriors won 12-1 in seven innings over UMSL in the afternoon and 5-2 against Illinois-Springfield in the nightcap.
GAME ONE vs. UMSL (W, 12-1 / SEVEN INNINGS)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Warriors scored 10 runs on seven hits and an UMSL error in the bottom of the second inning. The huge frame was highlighted by a three-run triple from
Justin Sherman (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Pioneer), an RBI double from
Justin Kelly (Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton Warrenville South) plus RBI singles from
Brad Baldwin (Troy, Mich. / Bishop Foley Catholic) and
Devin Rose (Farmington Hills, Mich. / Orchard Lake St. Mary's).
-
Chris Horvath (Lakeshore, Ont.) (2-0) kept the Tritons in check, retiring nine straight at one point. WSU added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning with a
Ryan Mergener (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Portage Central) two-run double. UMSL finally touched Horvath for a run on two hits in the top of the seventh inning but WSU would keep the double-digit lead intact to end the contest early.
AT THE PLATE
- Sherman drove in three runs, while Rose, Mergener and
Tristen Jorah (Clinton Twp., Mich. / Sterling Heights Stevenson) all collected two RBI apiece. Kelly finished with a 3-for-4 game and scored three times.
ON THE MOUND
- Horvath six innings and struck out six, and did not allow an earned run on five hits and a walk.
Nick Cowen (Tecumseh, Mich.) and
Brendan Wetmore (Westland, Mich. / John Glenn) combined to pitch the seventh inning.
GAME TWO vs. ILLINOIS-SPRINGFIELD (W, 5-2)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams were scoreless until the Green & Gold scored five runs in the top of the fourth inning.
Griffin Harms (Bingham Farms, Mich. / Birmingham Groves) sent a three-run home run to left field to begin the big inning. Jorah and
Jeremy Carrell (St. Clair, Mich.) drew bases-loaded walks to extend the WSU advantage to 5-0.
-
Hunter Brown (St. Clair, Mich. / Lakeview) (1-0) and
Taylor Horn (Leo, Ind.) combined to hold the Prairie Stars to two runs the rest of the way and secure the victory. UIS scored a run in the bottom of the fifth inning and Horn was able to limit the damage to one run in the bottom of the ninth to earn his first career save.
AT THE PLATE
- Harms, Kelly and
JT Conti (Trenton, Mich.) combined to go 6-for-13 with three RBI and three runs scored.
ON THE MOUND
- Brown earned his first collegiate victory by striking out eight batters over five innings. Horn pitched the final four innings and struck out seven to continue WSU's solid bullpen results.
UP NEXT
- WSU will conclude the weekend with two more games against UIS, beginning with a nine-inning contest on Saturday beginning at 6 p.m. EST.