COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Wayne State University baseball team (12-10, 4-2 GLIAC) returned to league play on Saturday and swept a doubleheader against Ohio Dominican (12-9-1, 0-6 GLIAC).  The Warriors hit three home runs to overpower the Panthers in game one, 8-3, and the offense exploded for 17 more runs in game two to win 17-9.

GAME ONE vs. OHIO DOMINICAN (W, 8-3)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- WSU struck first with two runs on two hits in the top of the first inning.  Aaron Loconsole (Macomb, Mich. / Marine City) started the inning with an infield single and stole second base.  Following a walk to Brad Baldwin (Troy, Mich. / Bishop Foley Catholic) and a double steal, an RBI groundout from Justin Kelly (Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton Warrenville South) gave the Warriors the lead.  JT Conti (Trenton, Mich.) singled up the middle to extend the advantage to 2-0.  Jared Tobey (St. Clair, Mich.) kept the Panthers quiet through three innings with five strikeouts, dancing around a double and two walks.

- ODU scored a run in the bottom of the fourth inning with the help of a WSU error.  Griffin Harms (Bingham Farms, Mich. / Birmingham Groves) homered to left field in the top of the fifth inning to give the Green & Gold a 3-1 lead.  Following a Ryan Mergener (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Portage Central) double in the top of the sixth inning, Randy Kuzdak (Redford, Mich. / Dearborn Divine Child) delivered a pinch-hit RBI single for WSU's fourth run of the game.

- Wayne State traded a run for a 6-4-3 double play in the bottom of the sixth inning to bring ODU within two, 4-2.  Tyler Tompson (Farmington, Mich.) replaced Tobey in the bottom of the sixth inning and stalled the Panthers' comeback attempt with a groundout to third base.  With two outs in the top of the seventh inning, Kelly added to WSU's lead with a home run to left field.  Later in the seventh inning, Mergener crushed the Warriors' third home run of the game to left, giving WSU a 7-2 lead.  Justin Sherman (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Pioneer) kept the line moving with an RBI single down the right field line.

- Three walks loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning and head coach Ryan Kelley called on left-hander Taylor Horn (Leo, Ind.) out of the bullpen.  An RBI groundout produced ODU's third and final run of the game but Horn was able to keep the damage to one and secure the victory.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
- Kelly and Mergener both drove in a pair of runs, while Daniel Peake (Mississauga, Ont. / Lorne Park) drew four walks.

ON THE MOUND
- Tobey improved to 4-0 on the season by matching a career-high with nine strikeouts in five and 2/3 innings, allowing one earned run.
- Tompson walked three but did not allow a run, while Horn recorded the final two outs of the game.

GAME TWO vs. OHIO DOMINICAN (W, 17-9)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The WSU offense kept forcing the issue in game two and Conti doubled to center field, bringing home two runs in the top of the first inning.  A fielder's choice RBI and a bases-loaded walk gave WSU a 4-0 lead.  Kelly's bat stayed hot with a two-run single through the left side, extending the visitors' lead to 6-0.  Baldwin singled to begin the top of the fourth inning and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Conti.

- Chris Horvath (Lakeshore, Ont. / St. Anne Catholic) (2-3) danced around a one-out walk in the bottom of the fifth inning to keep ODU off the board.  A Harms RBI double down the left field line plated Loconsole and Kelly followed with an infield RBI single, extending WSU's lead to 9-0.  WSU added four more runs in the sixth inning including a three-run home run from Peake.

- Horvath's no-hit bid was broken up on an infield single in the sixth inning and ODU went on to score a run in that frame plus five more in the bottom of the seventh inning to trim deficit to 13-6.  WSU added four more runs in the top of the eighth inning including a two-run double to left center from Peake.  The Panthers scored three late runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to make the final score 17-9.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
- Peake turned in a 3-for-5 performance and drove in a career-high five runs, while scoring two more.
- Conti collected four RBI, while Kelly added three RBI.
- Six Warriors notched multiple-hit games.

ON THE MOUND
- Horvath allowed one earned run one one hit and five walks in six innings.
- Brandyn Hall (Sylvania, Ohio / Northview) did not record an out and allowed five runs.
- Nick Cowen (Tecumseh, Mich.) tossed two innings and allowed two runs while retiring two via the strikeout.
- Devin Rose (Farmington Hills, Mich. / Orchard Lake St. Mary's) made his collegiate pitching debut before Brendan Wetmore (Westland, Mich. / John Glenn) collected the final two outs.

UP NEXT
- Wayne State and Ohio Dominican will conclude the four-game series with a doubleheader beginning at noon.