DETROIT -- In the home openers for the Wayne State University baseball program (7-4 overall), the Warriors split a doubleheader against visiting Indianapolis (8-8 overall) on Saturday afternoon. WSU lost game one 8-4 before scoring five runs over the final three innings in game two to come back and win, 8-7, in 10 innings. It had been 692 days between home games for the Green & Gold.
GAME ONE RECAP (L, 4-8)
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Warriors struck first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run double from redshirt junior Chris Tanderys (Livonia, Mich. / Stevenson). A hit-by-pitch, a passed ball, a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch led to an unearned run in the top of the second inning for UIndy.
The Greyhounds tied the contest at 2-2 with an RBI single in the top of the fifth inning. In the top of the sixth inning, UIndy scored five runs on four hits and three errors to jump out to a 7-2 advantage.
Redshirt junior Hunter DeLanoy (Hartland, Mich.) blasted a solo home run over the right field wall in the bottom of the sixth inning to trim the deficit to four. However, the visitors tallied a run in the top of the ninth inning. Graduate student Michael MacLean (Bloomfield Hills, Mich. / Country Day / The Lawrenceville School) started the ninth with a single before redshirt junior Nate Roede (Byron Center, Mich.) doubled home MacLean to make it 8-4. The next three hitters went down in order to end the game.
AT THE PLATE
DeLanoy finished 3-for-4 with two runs and RBI, while Roede went 2-for-4. Tanderys drove in two runs.
ON THE MOUND
Graduate student Dillon McInerney (Richmond, Mich.) (1-1) started and lasted five and 2/3 innings. He allowed seven runs (one earned) on seven hits, while striking out seven batters. Senior Nicholas O'Dea (Livonia, Mich. / Detroit Catholic Central) worked the final three and a 1/3 innings out of the bullpen and allowed one run on five hits with five strikeouts.
GAME TWO RECAP (W, 8-7 / 10 INNINGS)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Indianapolis used two walks and a wild pitch early in the top of the first inning to score a run on an RBI single. Two more runs crossed for the visitors in the top of the second inning to extend their lead to 3-0.
The Warriors responded with a run in the bottom of the second on an RBI single from senior Jacob Finkbeiner (Saline, Mich.). The Greyhounds got that run back in the top of the third inning on two hits. UIndy continued to tack on runs and made it 5-1 with a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth inning.
The comeback started for WSU in the bottom of the sixth inning when a bases-loaded walk to Finkbeiner plus a sac fly by DeLanoy made it 5-3. The pattern continued and UIndy answered with two more runs in the top of the seventh, aided by three hits and a wild pitch.
A DeLanoy RBI groundout in the bottom of the eighth inning cut Wayne State's deficit to three, 7-4.
In a thrilling bottom of the ninth inning, the first three batters reached after MacLean singled followed by a hit-by-pitch and walk to junior Jacob Badalamenti (Clinton Twp., Mich. / Warren De La Salle). After a strikeout, junior Noah Miller (Macomb, Mich. / University Liggett) found himself with the a full count and the bases loaded with two outs. As the runners were off with the pitch, Miller sent a single into the left center that cleared the bases and tied the game. He moved to second on the throw and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Wayne State was unable to get that winning run home as Finkbeiner struck out swinging to send the game to extras.
UIndy had a runner on a second after a leadoff walk but was picked off second base by redshirt sophomore Joey Muzljakovich (Mayfield, Mich. / Traverse City St. Francis) (1-0).
The first two batters in the bottom of the 10th inning were retired but Roede started the two-out rally with a walk. MacLean singled to third base before a passed ball put runners at second and third. Redshirt junior Ryan Foley (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Saline) connected for a walk-off RBI single back up the middle to give the Green & Gold an 8-7 victory.
AT THE PLATE
Finkbeiner, junior Davis Graham (Grosse Pointe, Mich. / Grosse Pointe South), MacLean, Badalamenti and Miller all finished with two hits a piece. Miller had a team-high three RBI, while Finkbeiner and DeLanoy both had two RBI.
ON THE MOUND
WSU used six pitchers starting with junior Ryan Korolden (Yale, Mich.) who allowed three earned runs on five hits and three walks. Sophomore Karter Fitzpatrick (Monroe, Mich. / Carleton Airport) was the first arm out of the bullpen and worked two innings, allowing two runs. Junior Chad Sommers (Jonesville, Mich.) also worked two innings and allowed two runs before redshirt senior Jack Schmidt (Fishers, Ind. / Indianapolis Cathedral) tossed two innings of relief and allowed two runs on four hits. Redshirt senior Brendan Bilkovic (West Bloomfield, Mich.) did not allow a run in his inning of work before Muzljakovich was responsible for the final frame.
UP NEXT
Wayne State will play its first league games of the season at Ashland on April 1-3. Game one is set for Thursday at 3:00 PM.
