WSC drops NSIC baseball opener to Sioux Falls

The Wildcats were held in check much of the game by Sioux Falls starting pitcher Brady Baur as the left-hander did not allow a hit until the fifth inning while striking out eight batters in seven innings of work.

Meanwhile, Sioux Falls used a two-run homer in the first to take an early 2-0 lead, then added two more runs in the third and sixth innings – all coming with two outs – to put the Cougars ahead 6-0 and chase Wildcat starter Tyler Albert.

WSC got their first hit of the game in the fifth inning – a leadoff double by junior designated hitter Korey Cozad. The 'Cats had their first big scoring opportunity in the sixth inning, loading the bases with two outs, as Nate Cunningham walked, Max Heard singled up the middle and Paul Schuyler was hit by a pitch. But WSC ended the inning on a popup without scoring.

The Wildcats opened the seventh frame with leadoff singles from Braden Cannon and Casey Prychak, but again could not produce any more hits to continue the inning.

Wayne State did get on the scoreboard in the top of the eighth inning as Cunningham reached on a third-strike passed ball, moved to second on a Cougar error and scored on a Korey Cozad single up the middle for the lone Wildcat run.

Sioux Falls closed the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the eighth for the 9-1 final score.

USF held a 13-5 advantage in hits on the Wildcats. Cozad went 2 for 4 with a double, single and RBI. Heard, Cannon and Prychak each added singles.

Freshman starter Tyler Albert (7-4) was tagged with the pitching loss, charged with six runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings with five strikeouts and three walks. Reliever Conlin Grady worked the final 2 1/3 innings and gave up three runs on five hits with one strikeout.

Wayne State faces Minnesota Crookston Thursday at 12 p.m. in an elimination game at the Bird Cage in Sioux Falls.