Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

WAYNE, Neb. - The Northern State University Wolves rallied from a 2-run deficit to score runs in their final four at bats and claim their first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory of the season on Saturday, knocking off the Wayne State Wildcats 9-5 in Game 1 of the conference doubleheader.  WSC took home the second game by a final score of 13-2.

The win snapped a six-game losing skid for the Wolves, who are now 3-11 overall and 1-5 in league play.  It also marked the 99th career victory for NSU head coach Dean Berry.  WSC moved to an even 8-8 overall and 1-1 in the loop.

The Wolves surrendered the early lead after giving up two Wildcat runs in the bottom of the third.  In the top of the fourth, however, NSU took full advantage of a two-out error, pushing four runs across the plate before the Wildcats were able to secure the elusive third out.  

After the error, the Wolves rattled off three straight hits from Jose Figueroa, Zach Miller and Jack Thompson before executing a double steal to plate the fourth and final run of the stanza.  The floodgates, however, had been opened for the Wolves, who scored another run in the fifth, two in the sixth and two more for good measure in the seventh.

NSU was also able to capitalize on a sixth-inning Wildcat error to score both of their runs in that inning.  Miller led off the inning by reaching on an error by the WSC shortstop, then scored on a two-out Michael Cross double.  That hit chased Wildcat starter Austen Wisroth from the game.  The pitching change didn't matter to NSU senior Lucas Jung as he laced a single through the right side to score Cross from second.

Wisroth absorbed the loss for the Wildcats despite giving up just one earned run in the seven total allowed.  NSU starter Sean Winslow picked up his first win with a four-inning outing.  Winslow allowed two runs on two hits and four walks while striking out two.  Sophomore Thane Lees, owner of the Wolves' two previous victories, came on in the bottom of the sixth inning and stayed on in the seventh, fanning all four batters he faced to earn his first career save.

As much as the Wolves took advantage of the Wildcat miscues in Game 1, the Wildcats returned the favor in the second game, capitalizing on three Northern State errors to score ten runs on three hits in the stanza.  One of those hits was a grand slam home run by Travis Parsons.

After the monster third inning, however, the Wildcat bats went largely quiet for the remainder of the game, managing just one run in their next four at bats.

The NSU offense awoke to snuff out the Wildcats' shut-out bid in the top of the sixth inning.  Thompson led off the inning with a single and later scored on a Will Fisher sacrifice fly.  The Wolves added a second run in the top of the seventh when Max Myers led off with a double and scored on Kelly Coates' ensuing single.

Trent Bestland took the loss in Game 2 after giving up nine runs in an inning and a third.  WSC's Eric Schweiger earned his first win of the season with a complete-game outing.

The two teams will be back at it on Sunday, closing out the four-game series with a second doubleheader.  First pitch is slated for noon.