 "Photo: Matt Turner")
Exactly one week after a cold, snowy weekend against Indianapolis, the University of West Georgia Wolves baseball team suffered another tough weekend on Saturday when the visiting Wayne State University Warriors swept the afternoon doubleheader.
In the first game, Wolves starting pitcher Corey Watts took to the mound and delivered three shutdown innings by striking out two batters and giving up only two singles. In the top of the fourth inning, however, Watts ran into some trouble. Warriors catcher, Michael Wiseman, batted a double to left field and then advanced to third base following a single by left fielder Paul LaMantia. Third baseman Alex Trojan then hit another double bringing home Wiseman and LaMantia and putting the Warriors on top 2-0.
The Wolves batting answered back at the bottom of that inning when designated hitter Michael Hornsby singled to left field. A double from third baseman Brandon Mainor moved Hornsby to third base and two outs later a sacrifice fly from shortstop Justin Smith brought him home and cut the Warriors’ lead 2-1.
Unfortunately, the Warriors unleashed a batting barrage in the top of the seventh inning with Wolves relief pitcher Chris Ferguson on the mound. Ferguson hit second baseman Andrew Ciennik putting him on first base. Wiseman’s single followed by a throwing error advanced the runners two bases. LaMantia then batted an RBI down the right field line scoring Ciennik. Trojan followed with a 2-RBI double scoring both Wiseman and LaMantia and sealing the Warriors win, 5-1. Warriors starting pitcher Justin Mazur pitched a complete game earning the win (1-0) while Watts acquired the lost (2-2).
The story of the second game followed closely the story of the first game with little offense and seventh inning pitching woes. Marc Nellist started on the mound for the Wolves and pitched six strong innings acquiring four strikeouts and surrendering only one walk and one run- an RBI by Trojan which scored Ciennik for a 1-0 Warriors lead.
The seventh inning once again witnessed the release of the Warriors batting. Shortstop Caleb Dalman hit a single and advanced to second base following a Wolves’ error. Nellist walked the next batter, center fielder Ryan LaPensee. An error by third baseman Brandon Mainor put Ciennik on first and loaded the bases. Wiseman then batted a 2-RBI double which scored both Dalman and LaPensee. A foul out by LaMantia brought Ciennik home and another RBI double from Trojan scored Wiseman, putting the Warriors up 5-0.
The Wolves’ only response was a homerun by Brian York who pinch-hitted for left fielder Mike Markakis. Like Mazur, Warriors’ starter Brett Shankin also pitched a complete game and earned the win (1-0). Nellist acquired the loss (0-1).
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