DETROIT -- The 22nd-ranked Wayne State University baseball program (31-12 overall, 15-9 GLIAC) hosted Saginaw Valley State (17-25-1 overall, 10-14-1 GLIAC) for the first of four games at Harwell Field on Friday afternoon and the Warriors blanked the Cardinals 2-0, holding the visitors to two hits.

HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a pitcher's dual early as both teams were scoreless through five innings.  Jacob Finkbeiner (Saline, Mich.) doubled to right field to start the bottom of the sixth inning before Michael MacLean (Bloomfield Hills, Mich. / Country Day / The Lawrenceville School) walked and Justin Kelly (Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton Warrenville South) flew out to deep right field, allowing Finkbeiner to advance to third base.  A fielding error by SVSU's third baseman allowed the game's first run cross the plate.

Noah Miller (Macomb, Mich. / University Liggett) grounded out to second base with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth to give the Green & Gold a 2-0 lead.

Richard Hovde (Saline, Mich.) worked around a walk and a hit in the ninth inning to secure the victory.

AT THE PLATE
Ryan Foley (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Saline) finished 2-for-4 to pace the offense.

ON THE MOUND
Hunter Brown (St. Clair Shores, Mich. / Lakeview) (9-0) was dominant once again, striking out eight batters over seven scoreless innings, while allowing just one hit.  He lowers his ERA to 1.82 and now has 100 Ks on the season, which ties him with Anthony Bass for the fourth-most in a season in program history.  Hovde earns his second save of the season by working two innings and striking out two batters.

UP NEXT
The teams will play twice on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m.