Wayne, Neb. — Minnesota State used walk-off homers in both games to defeat Wayne State College 5-4 and 14-10 in 11 innings Tuesday afternoon in Northern Sun Conference baseball played at Bowyer Field in Mankato, Minnesota. MSU improves to 32-15 and 27-9 in the NSIC while WSC is 25-19 and 20-14 in conference play.
The opener saw the Wildcats hold a 4-2 lead for over half of the game but the host Mavericks stole victory from Wayne State scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh for a 5-4 win.
WSC scored first to open the game as Colin Lynam’s single brought home Chase Douglas (walk) for a 1-0 lead.
After MSU scored twice in the bottom of the first for a 2-1 lead, Wayne State came up with three runs in the third inning to grab a 4-2 lead.
Douglas singled to right center and scored on a Colin Lynam double down the left field line with Lynam later scoring on a Trey Wells two-run homer to left field.
The score remained 4-2 until the bottom of the seventh when Minnesota State used a pair of singles and a walk-off home run to collect the 5-4 victory.
MSU had 10 hits in the game to five for Wayne State. Colin Lynam was 3 for 4 with a double and two RBI. Wells added a two-run homer while Douglas was 1 for 2 with two runs scored and a stolen base.
Starter Corbin Kirk worked the first five innings and allowed two runs on six hits with four strikeouts. Junior Eli Crnkovich worked the sixth inning, giving up one hit with one strikeout. Sophomore reliever Braden Cannon pitched the seventh inning and was charged with the loss, allowing three runs on three hits.
The ‘Cats got on the board first in the second game, scoring in the second inning as designed hitter Kyler Essink singled and scored on a Alex Calabrese double for the early 1-0 advantage.
MSU scored twice in the bottom of the second, but the ‘Cats tied the score with another run in the top of the third as Cade Lynam opened the inning with a solo homer to right field making the score 2-2.
The Mavericks regained the lead with three runs in the bottom of the third for a 5-2 lead.
WSC scored the next five runs – one in the fifth and four in the sixth – to go in front 7-5. Cam Madsen walked and scored on a Quinn McCafferty single for the run in the fifth. The ‘Cats used four hits and a Maverick error to score four runs in the sixth. An RBI double by Cade Lynam and RBI single from McCafferty were big hits in the inning.
Minnesota State cut the lead to 7-6 in the seventh inning with one run, but the ‘Cats responded with a three-run eighth thanks to a Colin Lynam three-run homer. Douglas and McCafferty each singled to set up Lynam’s homer.
But the Mavericks put together another final inning comeback in the ninth, scoring four runs on just two hits with a pair of walks and two hit batters to tie the score at 10-10 sending the game into extra innings.
After both teams went scoreless in the 10th, WSC was retired in order in the 11th while the host Mavericks used a walk, hit batter and bunt single followed by a walk-off grand slam to hand WSC a heart-breaking 14-10 setback.
WSC had 14 hits in the game, led by Cade Lynam going 3 for 5 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored. McCafferty went 3 for 6 with a pair of RBI. Young and Calabrese each had two hits with Colin Lynam adding a three-run homer.
Wayne State used seven pitchers in the game. Reliever Josh Kilzer (3-1) suffered the loss in the 11th inning.
The Wildcats are scheduled to close the regular season Friday and Saturday at Winona State with a three-game NSIC series. A doubleheader is scheduled for Friday at 1:30/4:30 p.m. and a nine-inning game Saturday at 12 p.m.
