CALEDONIA, Mich. -- The Wayne State University baseball program (14-7, 1-1 GLIAC) won 3-2 at Davenport (13-16, 3-3 GLIAC) on Saturday behind excellent defense and strong pitching. The original doubleheader scheduled for Saturday was moved to Sunday with wet weather in the area during the afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers drew first blood with two hits in the bottom of the third, including an RBI double by Nolan Anspaugh. Brett Zimmerman (Frankfort, Mich.) ended the threat by picking off a runner with a strong throw from behind the plate.
Chris Tanderys (Livonia, Mich. / Stevenson) drew a leadoff walk in the fourth inning before Hunter DeLanoy (Hartland, Mich.) singled down the left field line. An error allowed WSU to tie the game at 1-1 and a sacrifice fly by Rudy Ramirez (Brighton, Mich.) pushed the Green & Gold in front 2-1.
Michael MacLean (Bloomfield Hills, Mich. / Country Day / The Lawrenceville School) sent a one-out double into left center in the top of the sixth inning. A balk moved MacLean to third base and a DeLanoy sac fly made it 3-1.
DU looked poised to responded in the bottom of the sixth inning after back-to-back singles, but a 5-3 double play thwarted the rally attempt.
A trio of walks loaded the bases for Davenport in the bottom of the seventh inning but a strikeout looking from Brennan Cox (Taylor, Mich. / Riverview Gabriel Richard) swung momentum back to the WSU dugout. DU left two more runners on base in the eighth inning as Wayne State held onto a two-run advantage.
A pair of doubles by DU allowed the Panthers to trim their deficit to one, 3-2. Another pickoff by Zimmerman, this one at second base netted the Warriors a huge second out. A fly out to center field ended the game as Chad Sommers (Jonesville, Mich.) earned his third save of the season.
AT THE PLATE
DeLanoy finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
ON THE MOUND
Karter Fitzpatrick (Monroe, Mich. / Carleton Airport) (4-0) remained unbeaten, allowing one run in six and a 1/3 innings. He walked five and gave up seven hits/
Cox recorded key outs in his inning and 2/3 out of the bullpen, striking out three batters before Sommers ended the game collecting the final three outs, allowing one run.
UP NEXT
WSU will play a doubleheader at DU on Sunday and first pitch is set for noon.
