Warriors lose to Greyhounds 8-5; eliminated from postseason

Warriors lose to Greyhounds 8-5; eliminated from postseason: The Wayne State baseball team’s season came to an end in the second round of the 2012 NCAA Midwest Regional, as the Warriors dropped an 8-5 decision to the Indianapolis Hounds on May 18.

The Warriors needed a victory to keep their season alive, but instead were eliminated, ending the season with a 34-21 record overall.

The game was scoreless until the fourth inning when the Warriors got on the board, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the inning as Kyle Vesey and Kasey Koster each drove-in a run.

Justin DeFrancis made it a 3-0 game in the fifth inning when he scored Chris Gebara – who singled to lead off the inning with a bunt single.

WSU starter Alex Pierse kept the top-seeded Hounds scoreless for the first four innings, but unraveled in the fifth. Pierse gave up four hits – a double and three consecutive singles – and two walks in the inning, which led to four runs for the Hounds and his exit from the game.

Pierse’s day ended after 4 2/3 innings pitched, allowing four runs on six hits and five walks. Justin Sylvester replaced Pierse to finish the inning for the Warriors.

With Sylvester on the mound to start the sixth inning, the Hounds added four more runs – one off of Sylvester’s replacement, Billy Hurley, which was unearned thanks to a WSU error – to take an 8-3 lead.

Singles from Brad Guenther, DeFrancis and Kyle Zimmerman in the seventh inning led to one run for the Warriors, with the RBI going to Zimmerman. Andrew Ciennnik – who reached on a fielder’s choice – scored on Vesey’s RBI single – his second RBI of the game – to make it 8-5.

WSU’s rally attempt in the late innings fell short, as it left seven runners on base over the final three innings.

The Warriors finished one win shy of matching the school record set last season of 35 wins. WSU is also 6-10 all time in five NCAA Regionals.