DETROIT -- The fourth-seeded Wayne State University baseball team (27-21 overall) played top-seeded Northwood (36-14 overall) on Friday afternoon and WSU led for the majority of the contest but a two-run sixth inning gave the regular season GLIAC champions a lead it would not reliquish en route to a 3-1 victory, eliminating WSU in the process.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-
Justin Kelly (Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton Warrenville South) doubled to left to begin the fourth inning before
JT Conti (Trenton, Mich.) drew a walk. Kelly advanced to third on a fly out to right and
Tristen Jorah (Clinton Twp., Mich. / Sterling Heights Stevenson) drove in the first run of the game with an infield single.
-
Nolan Dill (Bowling Green, Ohio) (3-3) was sharp, keeping NU hitless in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings until the Timberwolves scored two runs on three hits in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 2-1 lead. A throwing error in the frame also aided in NU's comeback.
- NU added to its lead with a run in the bottom of the eighth inning. In the top of the ninth inning,
Ryan Mergener (Portage, Mich. / Portage Central) drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch third strike before the next batter popped out to second base.
AT THE PLATE
-
Jacob Finkbeiner (Saline, Mich.), Kelly,
Michael MacLean (Bloomfield Hills, Mich. / Country Day) and Jorah all collected hits.
ON THE MOUND
- Dill allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in five and 2/3 innings, while striking out four batters.
Addison Pawelek (Shelby Twp., Mich. / De La Salle) allowed an earned run in an inning and 2/3 before
Taylor Horn (Leo, Ind.) recorded the final two outs.
FROM COACH KELLEY
"
Nolan Dill provided a valiant effort on the mound today, said head coach
Ryan Kelley. "He gave everything he had and put us in a position to win. Not getting timely hits impacted us similar to Thursday's game."
UP NEXT
- The Warriors will have to wait to see if they are one of the eight teams selected for the NCAA Midwest Regional, WSU was seeded sixth in the rankings released on Wednesday. The selection show is at 10:00 p.m. and can be viewed
here.