The Wildcats fell in the final game of the NSIC series vs. St. Cloud State 9-4 in Wayne Sunday afternoon. WSC falls to 22-16 on the year (17-11 NSIC) while SCSU improves to 24-15 (20-9 NSIC).
The Huskies jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first following a home run out to right field. In the bottom half of the inning, Chase Douglas doubled out to right field on the first pitch for the Wildcats. Douglas also advanced to third following a field pick off attempt before scoring on a wild pitch. Colin Lynam added a single through the left side before catcher Trey Wells hit a home run to left field to put WSC in front 3-2.
St. Cloud State tied up the game in the second following an RBI double down the left field line. The bottom half of the second saw the Wildcats regain the lead after Douglas would have an RBI ground out to bring home Kyler Essink. Wildcats would be up on the Huskies following the second inning 4-3.
In the fourth, SCSU regained the lead for good after a three-run inning from the Huskies to put them up 6-4. The sixth inning would see the Huskies extend the lead to 7-4 while the Wildcats would get Quinn McCafferty and Essink on first and second, but WSC would fail to bring in those runners making it 7-4 Huskies after six.
SCSU would add two more runs in the contest with one in the eighth and one in the ninth making the final score 9-4 in favor of St. Cloud State.
In the loss, McCafferty led the Wildcats at the plate going 3-3. Douglas went 2-4 from the plate with an RBI, a double and a run scored. Wells hit the home run in the first inning but would be his sole hit of the day going 1-4 at the plate with two RBIs. Also recording hits for the Wildcats were Essink, Cam Madsen, and Colin Lynam.
Nathan Anderson got the start for WSC going four innings while producing four strikeouts. Anderson was also pitcher of record today making him fall to 2-3 this season. Josh Kilzer, Eli Crnkovich and Braden Cannon would see the mound in relief for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats next action is Wednesday at Sioux Falls for a mid-week doubleheader at 1:30 p.m.
