DETROIT -- The Wayne State University baseball team (20-9, 10-2 GLIAC) completed a four-game sweep of Ashland (12-20, 5-11 GLIAC) with two wins on Sunday. The Warriors scored five runs in the first three innings of game one to win 7-5 and used a four-run fourth inning in game two to win 6-3. The first-place Warriors have won six straight and 12 of their last 14 contests and continue their 10-game home stand with six more games this week.
GAME ONE (W, 7-5)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Warriors struck first with a pair of runs on three hits in the bottom of the first inning.
Brad Baldwin (Troy, Mich. / Bishop Foley Catholic) plated the inning's first run with an RBI groundout and a
Griffin Harms (Bingham Farms, Mich. / Birmingham Groves) RBI double gave WSU a 2-0 lead.
JT Conti (Trenton, Mich.) blasted a two-run home run to right field in the bottom of the second inning to increase the home advantage to 4-0.
- Patrick Adams (Detroit, Mich. / De La Salle) gave the Green & Gold a 5-0 lead with an RBI single in the third inning. Ashland scored three runs on two hits in the top of the fifth inning to trim the deficit to 5-3. However, Harms drove home two runs with a double into center field to give the Warriors a four-run lead after four innings.
- Ashland's J.P. Sorma hit a two-run home run to left center field in the seventh inning to bring the Eagles with two runs, 7-5. However,
Taylor Horn (Leo, Ind.) struck out the final batter to secure the victory.
AT THE PLATE
- Both
Ryan Mergener (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Portage Central) and Harms went 2-for-4, while Harms drove in three runs. Conti drove in a pair of runs with his second-inning homer.
ON THE MOUND
- Starter
Jared Tobey (St. Clair, Mich.) (2-3) struck out nine batters to match his career-high over four and 1/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits and four walks. Horn earned his seventh save of the season, working the final two and 2/3 innings and retiring five via the strikeout.
GAME TWO (W, 6-3)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Ashland scored first in game two with a run in the second inning. Following a single from Harms and walks to Adams and
Justin Kelly (Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton Warrenville South),
Justin Sherman (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Pioneer) sent a sacrifice fly to left field to tie the game at 1-1.
- The Eagles loaded the bases in the top of the fourth inning but starter
Tyler Waldrop (Grand Ledge, Mich.) (2-1) was able to induce a groundout to second base and escape without harm. WSU scored four runs on one hit and an error in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 5-1 lead. Sherman broke the 1-1 tie with an RBI groundout and Baldwin sent a three-run home run over the wall in center field.
- Conti put the Warriors up 6-1 with an RBi single in the bottom of the fifth inning. AU scored a run in the seventh and the eighth inning to trim WSU's lead to 6-3 but
Tyler Tompson (Farmington, Mich.) would close it out in the ninth by striking out the side.
AT THE PLATE
- Baldwin paced the offensive attack with a 4-for-5 performance, driving in three runs.
ON THE MOUND
- Waldrop pitched six and 2/3 innings and allowed two earned runs on nine hits and one walk. He struck out three the way to his second win of the season.
Josh Nelson (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Saline) tossed the next inning and 2/3 before Tompson notched his sixth save of the season with a perfect inning.
UP NEXT
- The Warriors will host Hillsdale for two games on Wednesday beginning at 2 p.m.
