HAMMOND, Ind. - The Panther baseball squad could not build upon yesterday's doubleheader sweep of Purdue Northwest as they dropped a pair to No. 18 nationally and defending GLIAC Champion Wayne State on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers slip to 2-2 in league play while the Warriors were playing in their first GLIAC games of the season.
The opening game was controlled by the Warriors 12-0 in seven innings. The teams were scoreless after two innings, but WSU opened the scoring in the top of the third as Bennett Hitzelberger reached on an error but was credited with a RBI allowing Mason McGuire to score from third.
McGuire would be in the mix again in the three-run fourth inning as he had a two-run scoring single to left field which gave the Warriors a 4-0 lead. The Warriors put the game out of reach with seven runs in the sixth inning. CJ Maury got the rally going with a RBI single. Hitzelberger followed with a RBI single and Tony Hatzigeorgiou drew a bases-loaded walk for the 7-0 lead. Kyle Ray drove in the next two runs on a double down the left field line and Owen Tuccinardi also doubled home a pair of runs. Hitzelberger also had a RBI single in the top of the seventh to conclude the scoring.
Karter Fitzpatrick, the reigning GLIAC Pitcher of the Year and All-American from 2023, went the distance and allowed just two hits with one walk and 10 strikeouts.
Anthony Aloisio and
Chase Kemp had singles for the Panthers.
Austin VanderMarkt got the start for DU and took the loss. He threw three innings and allowed four hits and three earned runs.
The second game was far more competitive but the Warriors put together one big inning in the seventh and it was the difference in a 6-2 triumph. Davenport scored first in the opening inning as
Tyler Mosher reached on an error and
Connor Hnilo scored. WSU tied the game with a run in the bottom of the fourth. Logan Tobel stole second and Ray scored on a throwing error by catcher
Carson Price.
Aloisio gave DU a 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh as he doubled home
Josh Robinson for the lead. The lead lasted just a few minutes as the Warriors scored five runs in the bottom ot the seventh. Jacoby Dale had a RBI double to tie the game and then Hitzelberger gave WSU the lead for good with a two-run scoring double. Hatzigeorgiou put two insurance runs on the board with a single up the middle for the 6-2 final tally.
Kemp did have a double in four at-bats for the Panthers. Hnilo also had a double in four at-bats from the leadoff spot. Griffin Kilander improved to 5-0 on the hill for Wayne State. He tossed seven innings and allowed four hits and one earned run. He also walked two and struck out six in 103 pitches.
Brayden Flanders (0-1) took the loss in relief as DU's third pitcher of the game. He tossed 3.2 innings and surrended five hits and five earned runs with one walk and six strikeouts.
After 23 straight games on the road to start the season, the Panthers will play their much-awaited home opener on Friday, Mar. 29 against Saginaw Valley State. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM.
