Wayne, Neb. — Wayne State scored at least one run in every inning, highlighted by a six-run seventh and four-run eighth, as the Wildcats pounded out 18 hits in a convincing 19-8 victory over Concordia-St. Paul Friday afternoon in an elimination game at the 2024 Northern Sun Conference Baseball Tournament in Bismarck, North Dakota. Both teams are now 29-22 on the season. WSC faces Minnesota State Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. in another elimination game with the winner facing #9 Augustana Saturday in the NSIC Championship Game.
Kyler Essink’s RBI single in the first inning resulted in Wayne State’s first run of the game for a 1-0 lead.
WSC added two runs in the second on a Quinn McCafferty two-run triple for a 3-0 Wildcat advantage.
CSP scored twice in the third to make the score 3-2, but WSC got another run in the bottom of the third when Trey Wells homered to right center field for a 4-2 WSC lead.
The ‘Cats added two runs in the fourth for a 6-2 lead thanks to an RBI double from Colin Lynam and a sacrifice fly from Quinn McCafferty.
One run in the fifth for WSC gave the ‘Cats a 7-2 advantage as Nate Cunningham had an RBI single.
Both teams scored twice in the sixth making the score 9-4. WSC got solo homers from Colin Lynam and Trey Wells.
Concordia-St. Paul produced three runs in the top of the seventh to cut the Wildcat cushion to 9-7, but WSC scored six times in the seventh on just four hits and two Golden Bears errors to push the lead to 15-7. Nate Cunningham had a solo homer while Colin Lynam had an RBI single for key hits in the inning.
After CSP scored once in the top of the eighth, the ‘Cats added four insurance runs in the bottom of the inning to make the final score 19-8. Wells had a two-run single with Colin Lynam adding an RBI single.
Wayne State ended the game with 18 hits. Wells was 3 for 5 with two homers and five RBI to lead a solid Wildcat hitting attack. Colin Lynam ended 4 for 4 with four RBI and four runs scored including a home run. Cam Madsen finished 3 for 5 with three runs scored, Cunningham went 2 for 5 with a homer and two RBI while Essink also had two hits for WSC.
Kolt Davis started the game on the mound for WSC lasting 2 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Freshman lefthander Braden Sweet worked the next four innings and earned the win, giving up six hits and five runs. Eli Crnkovich pitched the final 2 1/3 innings and allowed one run on two hits.
Wayne, Neb. — Minnesota State erupted for six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to snap a 1-1 tie, giving the Mavericks a 7-1 win over Wayne State Friday evening at the NSIC Baseball Tournament in Bismarck, North Dakota. The loss ends Wayne State’s season at 29-23 while Minnesota State moves to the championship game with a 37-17 record and will face #9 Augustana at 12 p.m. having to beat the Vikings twice to win the tournament title.
The game was a pitcher’s dual between Wayne State’s Kadyn Van Hill and Minnesota State’s Spencer Wright for the first seven innings.
Wayne State got on the board first as Colin Lynam singled with two outs in the first inning and scored when Trey Wells reached on an error by the Mavericks’ centerfielder for a 1-0 lead.
The score stayed 1-0 until the fifth inning when Minnesota State finally got a hit off Wildcat starter Kadyn Van Hill and the Mavericks used a double, pair of walks and a sacrifice fly to even the score at 1-1.
The Wildcats had a golden opportunity to score in the eighth inning but came up empty. Cade Lynam walked, Chase Douglas reached on a fielder’s choice bunt and Colin Lynam walked to load the bases with one out. But the Minnesota State bullpen got out of the rally with a pair of strike outs to end the inning.
In the bottom of the eighth, Minnesota State then took control of the game as the Mavericks used a pair of walks and a single along with a fielder’s choice to take a 2-1 lead followed by a grand slam for a 6-1 advantage. By the end of the inning Minnesota State scored six runs on four hits and a trio of Wayne State errors to surge at the end for the win.
Minnesota State held a 7-6 edge over WSC in hits. Cam Madsen finished 2 for 4 with a pair of singles. Douglas, Colin Lynam, Kyler Essink and Cade Lynam each singled.
Junior starter Kadyn Van Hill fired seven outstanding innings for WSC, allowing just three hits and one run with eight strikeouts and four walks in a no-decision. He threw 110 pitches with 71 strikes. Sophomore closer Braden Cannon (2-2) suffered the pitching loss while junior lefthander Jacob Kneifl worked the final 2/3 innings.
