XENIA, Ohio -- The fourth-seeded Wayne State University baseball team (28-24) saw its season come to an end on Saturday in an elimination game against top-seeded Grand Valley State (33-16-1), 9-8.  WSU led 4-2 after three innings but a three-run fourth inning gave GVSU a lead it would not relinquish.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Wayne State jumped out to a 1-0 lead on JT Conti (Trenton, Mich.) as he helped his own cause with an RBI single into center field in the top of the first inning.  The Lakers answered with two runs on three hits and a WSU error in the bottom of the first inning.  The Warriors used four hits to plate three runs in the top of the second inning, including a two-run double from Cole Clifton (Sterling Heights. Mich. / De La Salle) to take a 4-2 lead.  Conti was able to keep GVSU off the board in the bottom of the second inning but a leadoff home run in the bottom of the third trimmed WSU's lead to 4-3.

- The GLIAC co-champions used just one hit to score three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning as Wayne State pitchers issued five walks, including three coming with the bases loaded.  However, WSU stayed closed in the top of the fifth inning, scoring a run on a throwing error.  The Lakers scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on a two-run single to extend their lead to 8-5.

- Ryan Mergener (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Portage Central) started the top of the seventh inning with a solo home to right field and a Justin Kelly (Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton Warrenville South) RBI single cut the deficit to one at 8-7.  WSU was unable to get the shutdown inning it needed and three hits in the bottom of the seventh netted GVSU its ninth and final run of the game.  Clifton led off the eighth inning with a single and pinch-hitter Jared Tobey (St. Clair, Mich.) plated a run with a double into left center.

- The Warriors escaped the bottom of the eighth inning without any damage and entered the ninth inning trailing 9-8.  Griffin Harms (Bingham Farms, Mich. / Birmingham Groves) singled through the left side.  After two outs, Sean Winkelseth (Ypsilanti, Mich.) singled to the left side putting runners at the corners with two outs.  Tristen Jorah (Clinton Twp., Mich. / Stevenson) struck out looking to end the rally and the contest.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
- Conti finished 4-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
- Also posting multiple-hit games were Brad Baldwin (Troy, Mich. / Bishop Foley Catholic), Clifton and Winkelseth.

ON THE MOUND
- WSU used five pitchers beginning with Conti who threw three and 2/3 innings and allowed six earned runs and struck out four batters, while issuing three walks.
- Addison Pawelek (Shelby Twp., Mich. / De La Salle), Taylor Horn (Leo, Ind), Nolan Dill (Bowling Green, Ohio) and Tyler Waldrop (Grand Ledge, Mich.) all made an appearance with Dill allowing the only earned run between the quartet.