April 1, 2008

Box Score

RENSSELAER, Ind. - The Wayne State baseball team (10-8) had its eight-game winning streak snapped following a 9-4 setback at #8 St. Joseph's (24-4) in the first game of a doubleheader Tuesday afternoon.

Pacing the Warrior offense was Ryan LaPensee (LaSalle, Ont./St. Thomas of Villanova) who went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Derek Ranck (Clarkston, Mich.) and Brett Witczak (Hudsonville, Mich.) each had two hits and drove in a run.

After falling behind, 5-0, Wayne State attempted to mount a comeback, scoring three times in the fifth inning and once in the sixth. The Pumas answered with four runs in the bottom of the sixth, however, to win their fifth straight game.

SJC went ahead by three in the first inning, aided by a bases-loaded WSU error which led to a pair of unearned runs.

A two-run double in the fourth by Mike Staehle put the home team in front by five, but WSU responded with three runs in the top of the fifth. Consecutive bases-loaded singles by LaPensee and Ranck made it a 5-2 game, and Witczak tacked on a two-out RBI single to bring the Warriors within two.

Matt Cunningham (Gregory, Mich./Chelsea), who led off the sixth with a double, came around to score on a groundout by Matthew Williams (Detroit, Mich./Royal Oak Shrine).

The Puma offense exploded for four runs on five hits in the sixth, including a two-run homer by Matt Wille.

Josh Lewis (Harper Woods, Mich./Grosse Pointe North) went four innings and surrendered five runs (three earned) on five hits in his second career start. Robby Foscarin (Toronto, Ont./Michael Power St. Joseph) pitched the final two frames in relief and struck out a pair.

NOTES
Tuesday marked the first meeting between Wayne State and St. Joseph's since May 19, 2005 ... Ranck has posted multiple-hit outputs in three straight games ... Williams and Adam Kaminski (Clinton Twp., Mich./Mt. Clemens) each drew two walks in the game ... Williams leads the Warriors with 12 walks this season ... he also stole his team-best ninth base of the year.