Wayne, Neb. — A seven-run fourth inning helped Wayne State College post an 8-4 win over Southwest Minnesota State Sunday afternoon at the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex in Wayne, giving the Wildcats a series clinching win over the Mustangs. SMSU bounced back in the second game (non-conference) of the doubleheader, holding off a late Wildcat rally for a 7-6 win. WSC is now 5-7 and 4-4 in the NSIC while SMSU is 5-6 and 3-5 in league play.
In the opener, WSC trailed 3-1 entering the bottom of the fourth inning when the Wildcats exploded for seven runs on six hits to take control of the contest.
CJ Neumann opened the big inning with a double and scored on a Peyton Barnes ground out for the first Wildcat run. Connor Fiene’s single brought home Hunter Babe (single) with Fiene crossing home plate on a Brenden Madsen single to give WSC the lead at 4-3.
Bryce Bisenius followed with a bases loaded clearing double to center field that scored Kaleb Holm (hit by pitch), Alex Logelin (walk) and Madsen. Neumann closed the big inning with another RBI single that scored Bisenius to give the Wildcats an 8-3 lead.
SMSU closed the scoring with a run in the ninth for a final score of 8-4.
WSC had nine hits in the game, led by Fiene going 2 for 4 with two RBI. Neumann also had two hits and an RBI. Bisenius doubled with three RBI while Madsen, Barnes, Babe and Logelin each singled.
Sophomore starter Ryan Obrecht (2-0) notched the win, firing six innings. He allowed five hits and three runs (two earned) with three strikeouts. Aaron Ras delivered two hitless innings of relief with Lawson Zenner working the final frame.
The second game saw SMSU build an early 7-1 lead, then hold off a late Wayne State rally for a 7-6 win.
WSC opened the game with three hits and one run in the bottom of the first as Barnes laced an RBI single to right field that brought home Bisenius (single) for the first Wildcat run.
The Mustangs then scored three runs in the second and two more each in the third and fourth innings for a 7-1 advantage.
The Wildcats came back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth on just one hit, two walks and a Mustang error. The lone hit in the inning was a two-run single by Nate Sailors.
WSC added another run in the sixth to cut the Mustang lead to 7-5. Kaleb Holm walked and scored on a wild pitch.
In the bottom of the seventh, Barnes singled to open the inning and crossed home plate on a wild pitch to get WSC within one at 7-6 but the ‘Cats could not come up with the final run to forge a tie as the Mustangs won.
Both teams had six hits in the game. Bisenius was 2 for 2 with two runs scored while Barnes singled twice and also scored two times. Sailors had a two-run single while Chris Cornish had the other Wildcat hit.
Logan Walters was tagged with the pitching loss, working three innings. Kolt Davis, Grant Carl and Josh Renken each worked in relief for WSC.
Wayne State is at home again Tuesday afternoon hosting Minot State in an NSIC doubleheader starting at 1:30 p.m.
