Wayne, Neb. — Wayne State rallied from a 9-4 deficit in the second game to post a 12-9 win and earn a split in a Northern Sun Conference baseball doubleheader Thursday afternoon vs. the University of Mary at the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex in Wayne. UMary captured the opener by a 6-1 score. WSC is now 13-7 and 8-2 in the league while UMary is 10-9 and 6-4 in NSIC games.
The opener saw University of Mary lefthander Lukas Frers limit the Wildcats to just three hits as the Marauders scored six runs in the final two innings to post a 6-1 win.
The game was a pitcher’s duel early between Frers and WSC lefthander Corbin Kirk. The ‘Cats scored the first run of the game in the fifth when Kaden Young tripled down the right field line and scored on a sacrifice fly by Braden Cannon for a 1-0 Wildcat lead.
But UMary came up with two runs in the sixth to grab a 2-1 lead and erupted for four runs in the seventh on Wildcat reliever Kadyn Van Hill to notch the 6-1 win.
Young had two of Wayne State’s three hits with a triple and single while Quinn McCafferty had the other hit – a single.
Kirk (1-1) suffered the hard-luck loss, striking out nine batters in six innings allowing just two runs on five hits.
After trailing 9-4 after 4 ½ innings, WSC used a five-run fifth and a go-ahead two-run homer from Alex Calabrese in the seventh to get the Wildcats a 12-9 win and a split of the doubleheader.
The Marauders held a 6-1 lead after two innings. WSC got three runs in the third to make the score 6-4, but UMary scored another three runs in the fourth for a 9-4 advantage.
A five-run fifth by WSC tied the score at 9-9. Big hits in the inning were a two-run double by Calabrese and a two-run single from Cade Lynam.
Calabrese then delivered the go-ahead blast in the seventh, a two-run shot over the left field fence, giving the ‘Cats an 11-9 lead.
WSC added an insurance run in the eighth on just one hit, using three walks and infield single by McCafferty to take a 12-9 lead.
Junior closer Braden Cannon came on and collected his third save of the season allowing just one walk to close the 12-9 victory.
Wayne State had 12 hits in the win, led by Calabrese going 2 for 4 with four RBI and two runs scored that included a home run and double. Colin Lynam went 2 for 4 with two runs scored while Cade Lynam was 2 for 4 with a pair of RBI.
Reliever Brody Sintek fired 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just three hits with four strikeouts to record the win, now 1-0 on the year, while Cannon recorded his third save.
The Wildcats and Marauders play another doubleheader Friday starting at 12 p.m. at the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex in Wayne.
