GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Wayne State University baseball team (10-10 overall, 1-3 GLIAC) and Davenport (11-9 overall, 3-1 GLIAC) concluded the first league series of the season on Sunday and the Panthers took both games by scores of 6-0 and 7-6, respectively.

GAME ONE (L, 0-6)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Panthers scored first with a run on one hit with assistance from a WSU wild pitch in the bottom of the first inning.  Davenport took a 4-0 lead with three runs on three hits in the bottom of the fourth inning, including a two-run home run.

- A two-run double in the bottom of the fifth inning stretched the home lead to 6-0 and Wayne State was unable to create any offense in the seventh as DU guaranteed itself at least a series split with a shutout victory.

AT THE PLATE
- Ryan Mergener (Portage, Mich. / Portage Central) went 2-for-3, while Brad Baldwin (Troy, Mich. / Bishop Foley Catholic), JT Conti (Trenton, Mich.), Tristen Jorah (Clinton Twp., Mich. / Sterling Heights Stevenson) and Michael Toth (Northville, Mich. / Detroit Catholic Central) all tallied base hits.

ON THE MOUND
- Brandon Williams (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Stevenson) (2-1) started and allowed five earned runs over four innings.  He struck out five batters and walked three.  Jack Schmidt (Fishers, Ind. / Indianapolis Cathedral) worked an inning an allowed an earned run, while Brennan Cox (Taylor, Mich. / Riverview Gabriel Richard) tossed a scoreless inning of relief.

GAME TWO (L, 6-7)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Warriors were the first to score in game two with two runs on a hit.  Mergener gave WSU a 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly before Conti's RBI double to right field extended the lead to 2-0.  Davenport executed a double steal, including swiping home to pull within a run.  Two errors by the Green & Gold in the second inning allowed the Panthers to score twice, taking a 3-2 lead.  Conti continued to swing a hot bat with a two-run double down the right field line in the top of the third inning to put WSU on top, 4-3.  However, DU would score two runs on four hits in the bottom of the third inning, taking a 5-4 lead.

- Patrick Adams (Detroit, Mich. / De La Salle) singled into center to begin the fourth inning and Jacob Finkbeiner (Saline, Mich.) connected for a go-ahead two-run home run down the left field line, giving the Warriors a 6-5 lead.  The Panthers had an answer, scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on a WSU fielding error but an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play kept the deficit at one.

- Zach Girard (Sleepy Hollow, Ill. / Dundee Crown) drew a five-pitch walk to begin the top of sixth inning and advanced to second on a passed ball.  He reached third base on a groundout but was left stranded.  DU loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth inning but deft work by Taylor Horn (Leo, Ind.) out of the bullpen allowed WSU to escape without allowing any damage.  Conti singled through the right side to begin the seventh inning and was removed for pinch-runner Josh Blaszczak (Brownstown, Mich. / Riverview Gabriel Richard) who advanced to second on a groundout.  After a walk to Jorah, a 4-3 unassisted double play ended the game and gave DU the series victory with a 7-6 victory.

AT THE PLATE
- Conti finished 3-for-3 with two doubles and a walk, driving in three of WSU's six runs.  Finkbeiner hit his first collegiate home run.

ON THE MOUND
- Dillon McInerney (Richmond, Mich.) allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits over two and 2/3 innings, while Nolan Dill (Bowling Green, Ohio) (0-2) pitched an inning and 2/3, allowing an earned run with four strikeouts.  Hunter Brown (St. Clair Shores, Mich. / Lakeview) worked 2/3 of an inning before Horn recorded the final three outs for WSU.

UP NEXT
- Wayne State play at Urbana on Tuesday before opening its home schedule on Thursday against Ashland.