Wayne State junior lefthander Corbin Kirk fired a complete-game three-hitter with 12 strikeouts to lead Wayne State baseball in a 6-1 victory in the opener of a four-game NSIC series vs. Minot State Friday afternoon at Eaton Field in Wakefield. The games were moved to Wakefield due to this week’s snow storm in North Dakota. The second game turned into a slugfest with WSC prevailing 17-11 to sweep the doubleheader. The Wildcats are now 15-7 and 10-2 in the NSIC while Minot State drops to 8-15 and 5-8 in league play.
The Wildcats jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the opener to give Kirk plenty of run support in the 6-1 win.
A Trey Wells RBI double in the first brought home Carter Thomas (single) with the first run. A two-run double by Chase Douglas highlighted the three-run second that gave the ‘Cats a 4-0 lead.
WSC added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to grab a 6-0 advantage. Minot State got a solo homer in the fifth to end the shutout bid by Kirk as the ‘Cats prevailed 6-1.
Wayne State held a 9-3 edge in hits. Thomas was 2 for 4 with three runs scored while Kaden Young had two doubles going 2 for 4 with an RBI. Douglas and Wells added RBI doubles for the ‘Cats.
Kirk improved to 2-1 on the year with his complete-game effort, fanning 12 batters while allowing just three hits and one run.
The second game started as a pitcher’s battle – tied 2-2 after five innings – but turned into a slugfest where neither team could get the other out with both teams posting seven-run eighth innings before Wayne State finally finished with a 17-11 victory in a game that lasted three hours and 40 minutes.
The game totaled 24 walks, 22 hits and seven errors with each team using eight pitchers.
With the score tied 2-2 after five innings, WSC had two runs in the sixth and four in the top of the seventh to take a 8-2 lead.
Minot State cut the Wildcat lead to 8-4 with a pair of runs in the seventh frame.
Both teams had seven-run eighth innings. WSC scored seven runs on five hits and one Minot State error while the Beavers accounted for their seven runs on just three hits and six Wildcat walks to keep the game interesting.
The Wildcats added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth to make the final score 17-11.
Wayne State held a 13-9 advantage in hits in the second contest. Braden Cannon was 3 for 4 with a double and three RBI’s. Douglas went 2 for 5 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored while Thomas had another multi-hit game going 2 for 4 with a double.
Wildcat junior reliever Jacob Kneifl (2-0), the third of eight Wayne State throwers in the contest, picked up the win with 1 2/3 innings of relief. He was charged with one run and one hit with one strikeout.
Wayne State and Minot State will conclude their four-game NSIC series Saturday with an 11:30 a.m. doubleheader at the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex in Wayne.
