DETROIT – A pair of late offensive outputs were not enough as the Purdue University Northwest baseball team fell by identical 9-2 scores in Saturday's doubleheader at Wayne State University.
PNW (17-17, 6-13 GLIAC) did not get its offense going until the next to last inning in each game with two runs in the sixth inning of Game 1 and two more in the eighth inning of Game 2.
GAME 1: WAYNE STATE 9, PURDUE NORTHWEST 2
Wayne State (29-13, 14-6 GLIAC) jumped out to a 6-0 advantage after the first inning and rode the back of starting pitcher Ryan Korolden (6-1) to a complete-game performance giving up just two runs on six hits while walking three and striking out five.
PNW could only manage two runners reaching second base through the first five innings, but the Pride were finally able to crack the scoreboard in the top of the sixth. With two outs,
Ray Hilbrich (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) and
Alex Gasbarro (New Lenox, Ill./St. Laurence High School) each drew a walk and were eventually knocked in by
Tyler Schultz (Hobart, Ind./Hobart) and
Anthony Fumagalli (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North High School), respectively.
After bringing the deficit to within 6-2, the Pride would see Wayne State answer back in the bottom of the sixth with a trio of runs to put the game away.
Schultz was the lone bright spot on the offense for the Pride after going 3 for 3 with an RBI.
Sam Shively (Mishawaka, Ind./Mishawaka (Taylor)) (3-4) took the loss for PNW going five innings allowing nine runs on 11 hits with six strikeouts, three walks, two strikeouts, a balk and a wild pitch.
GAME 2: WAYNE STATE 9, PURDUE NORTHWEST 2
Game 2 started out just like the opening contest as Wayne State put up early runs, forcing the Pride to try and play catch up.
Wayne State scored two in the second and then three in the sixth and seventh innings each as well another run in the eighth.
PNW only had two baserunners throughout the first seven innings before finally breaking through in the eighth when
Hayden Matulich (San Jose, Calif./Pioneer) and
Gannon Andrews (Portage, Mich./Portage Northern High School) both collected RBI groundouts.
Six different players combined for the six PNW hits including a Schultz double in the top of the eighth where he eventually scored during the frame.
Bret Matthys (Cedar Lake, Ind./Hanover Central) (1-3) took the loss for the Pride going just five innings allowing four runs on seven hits with just one strikeout and three hits as well as a hit by pitch and four wild pitches.
Seth Marano (3-2) gave Wayne State another strong outing by a starter lasting seven innings and giving up just two runs on four hits with five strikeouts and no walks.
UP NEXT
PNW will look to avoid being swept as the Pride and Warriors face off in the series finale at Harwell Field on Sunday at 12 p.m. CDT.
FOLLOW THE PRIDE
For all the latest information on Purdue Northwest Baseball, please visit PNWathletics.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Pride (@pnwathletics / @PNW_Baseball) on Twitter. You can also find the Pride on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
