 "Photo: Tyler D. Griffis / Contributing Photographer")
The Wayne State baseball team was home for its last two in conference matchups against Northwood University sweeping the Timberwolves in both doubleheader games April 2 10-4 and 9-5 and the following day 21-5 and 16-14.
The Warriors have now won six straight games, all against conference rivals. An impressive doubleheader sweep on the road against the Ashland University Eagles March 31 set the tone for the victories that followed.
“That was a big determining factor in how our season might end up. We had to build momentum some time in the season and that was a big momentum boost for us,” head coach Ryan Kelley said. “To go down and win at Ashland, a team that’s a perennial contender year in and year out to win a championship, was real big for us.”
The Warriors are now 7-3 on the road, and Kelley couldn’t be more satisfied with the team’s road performance.
“We talk a lot about the mental preparation of the game. When you play on the road, the mound is still the same distance to home plate,” Kelley said. “Our guys are confident on the road. We’re not afraid to play on the road, so that has been big for us.”
Coming off the Ashland victory, a struggling University of Northwood team paid a visit to WSU. After a blowout win in game one, game two displayed a Wayne State baseball team radiating with confidence.
It seemed as though everyone had the hot hand. Kyle Vesey went 3-3 with a couple of RBIs and Michael Wiseman finished 2-2 along with two walks, three RBIs and two runs. Ryan LaPensee contributed two hits and two runs while increasing his school record for career hits.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth and the score at 5-4, a focused John Skaggs stepped to the plate and hit a momentum changing two-run single to right field.
“The pitcher ran a nice pitch on our batter before. I knew I had to come through. We were in scoring position,” team co-captain Skaggs said. “It was a real big play that helped us get the win today.
Two freshmen pitchers got the job done for WSU. Alex Pierse obtained his first collegiate victory while pitching the last four innings of the contest. Pierse surrendered only one run and two hits while walking three and striking out one.
WSU carried this great play into last the April 3 doubleheader, again against the Timberwolves. The Warriors recorded their highest run total in 2 years as they defeated Northwood 21-5 in game one. WSU managed 24 hits against the Timberwolves, the highest this decade. Skaggs had another stellar performance, recording two home runs and six RBIs. LaPensee contributed two doubles, three RBIs and four hits.
WSU won the second game in a tighter 16-14 victory.
The Warriors have displayed inconsistency at times this season, but these past few matchups look like their days of struggling offensively could be behind them and the new era of a balanced team has begun.
“We’re going to carry this momentum through the rest of this season,” Skaggs said.
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