The Wayne State University baseball team faced a challenging game against the 18th-ranked Minnesota State-Mankato, resulting in a 20-5 defeat on Tuesday night. The match took place in Winter Haven, Florida, and saw the Warriors’ record fall to 6-8 overall, while the Mavericks improved to 11-1.
Minnesota State set the tone early by scoring three runs in the first inning and adding five more in the second. Their offensive strength continued with six runs each in both the third and seventh innings.
Wayne State managed to score one run in the second inning when Brady Blakita from Canton, Michigan, drew a bases-loaded walk that allowed Tony Hatzigeorgiou from Oxford, Michigan, to score from third base. In the fourth inning, Mason McGuire of Lyon Township doubled in Hatzigeorgiou. This was followed by Blakita hitting his career’s first three-run home run to center field, bringing home Gabe Zeldes from West Bloomfield and McGuire.
On the pitching side for Wayne State, Drew Hill from Grosse Pointe Woods retired four batters alongside Coy Plummer of New Hudson and Nick Baker of Brighton. Ethan Getting pitched a scoreless inning before Keegan Pulford-Thorpe handled the last two frames.
The teams are scheduled for another face-off on Wednesday with an 11 a.m. start time.
