Box Score Photo Gallery
DETROIT -- In an exciting start to the final series of the regular season, the Wayne State University baseball team (32-13, 20-9 GLIAC) came back from a 3-2 deficit in the seventh inning to win 4-3 against Walsh (22-25, 14-15 GLIAC) on Friday evening. The Green & Gold scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take a one-run lead and
Clayton Ruch (Pemberville, Ohio / Eastwood) closed the door in the ninth inning to pick up his 13th save of the season to seal the victory.
Alex Kinch (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Pioneer) (8-1) earned his eighth win of the season, going 8 1/3 innings with six strikeouts.
Both teams were held scoreless through five innings. The Cavaliers struck first with a two-run double in the top of the sixth inning.
WSU tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning with two runs on two hits and a Walsh error.
Kyle Zimmerman (Frankfort, Mich.) cleared the "Green Monster" in left field for his first home run of the season and an RBI groundout from
Jimmy Jackson (Battle Creek, Mich. / Pennfield) tied the game at 2-2.
Walsh took a one-run lead in the top of the seventh on a fielder's choice RBI after back-to-back singles.
Kinch kept the Cavaliers quiet in the top of the eighth inning. Zimmerman began the bottom of the frame with a single through the left side. A sacrifice bunt from
Cameron Walker (Clinton Twp., Mich. / De La Salle) advanced Zimmerman to second before moving to third on a wild pitch.
Griffin Harms (Bingham Farms, Mich. / Birmingham Groves) was plunked and Jackson followed with a fielder's choice RBI, which Walsh compounded with two throwing errors allowing Harms to advance to third base.
Zach Johnson (Grandville, Mich.) delivered a perfectly executed safety squeeze down the first base line, scoring Harms and giving the Warriors the 4-3 lead.
Kinch retired the first batter of the ninth inning and was replaced by Ruch after a Warrior error allowed the next batter to advance to second base. A single through the right side put runners on the corners with one out. Walker got the runner at home on a fielder's choice and Ruch got the final batter to strikeout swinging to end the game.
The Warriors will wrap up their regular season with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon. In addition, WSU will honor its 11 seniors prior to first pitch.
