Wayne, Neb. — Junior outfielder Alex Logelin went 6 for 7 on the day, including 4 for 4 in the second game with two homers and three RBI, to lead Wayne State College in a split vs. Northern State Saturday afternoon to open Northern Sun Conference play at the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex in Wayne. NSU won the opener 8-5 followed by a 10-6 Wayne State win in the second game to earn a split. Wayne State is now 2-3 and 1-1 in the league while Northern State is 2-4 and 1-1 in the NSIC.
The opener saw Northern State score three runs in the top of the seventh inning to post an 8-5 win after WSC held a 4-1 lead after one inning.
Wildcat first baseman Eric Standish delivered a two-run single while CJ Neumann’s two-run double got WSC off to a quick start in the first inning.
The Wolves used a four-run fourth to take a 5-4 lead, but WSC tied the score in the bottom of the fifth when Andrew Hanson walked and later scored on a Wolves throwing error after stealing third base to make the score 5-5.
Northern State then came up with three runs in the top of the seventh on a double and two-run homer to take the opener 8-5.
The Wolves held an 8-5 edge in hits over the Wildcats. Standish finished 2 for 4 and two RBI while Logelin was 2 for 3 with a double. Neumann doubled for the other Wildcat hit.
Starter Aidan Breedlove (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing five runs on three hits. Freshman reliever Trenton Frerichs worked four innings and was charged with three runs over four innings.
The second game saw Logelin go 4 for 4 with a pair of homers and three RBI to lead the Wildcats in a 10-6 win.
WSC opened the scoring in the first when Brendan Madsen walked and scored when Andrew Hanson reached on an error.
The ‘Cats took a 4-0 lead in the third as CJ Neumann had a bases-loaded clearing double and gained a 5-0 lead in the fourth taking advantage of three walks to score another run.
Northern State stormed back in the top of the seventh and forged a 5-5 tie with five runs on just two hits, turning two hit batters and a walk into three runs.
WSC regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh on a solo homer from Logelin and went up 7-5 on a sacrifice fly by Standish.
Wayne State produced three insurance runs in the eighth for a 10-5 lead as Logelin connected on a two-run homer followed by an RBI double by Standish.
NSU closed the scoring with one run in the ninth for a 10-6 final score.
Logelin had four of Wayne State’s 11 hits in the second game. Seven other Wildcats each had one hit with Madsen, Standish, Neumann and Logelin each accounting for doubles.
Senior reliever Lawson Zenner got the win with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, striking out two. Starter Hunter Wienhoff struck out nine batters in six innings of work. Brody Sintek and Andrew Staebell also worked in relief for WSC.
Wayne State and Northern State close out the three-game weekend series Sunday with a nine-inning game at 12 p.m. at the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex.
