Wayne State baseball lost three games by a combined total of seven runs on their annual spring break Florida trip. Overall, it wasn’t a bad run for the Wildcats, as they battled hard and came very close to turning some of those close losses into victories.

The Wildcats ended up leaving Florida with a 3-5 record, and 5-7 overall. The games were played in Auburndale and Winter Haven.

The Wildcats lost their first game 7-5 on March 7 in Florida against Lewis College.

Leading the Wildcats at the plate was third baseman Michael Herman, who went 2-5 while scoring 2 runs and also batting in one run.

Junior pitcher Eric Browning threw 6 innings and gave up 7 hits, 4 earned runs, while striking out 3 batters.

Catcher Kevin Anderson also went 1-3 at the plate with 2 RBI’s.

The Wildcats played a doubleheader on March 8 with Alderson Broaddus. The first game they played resulted in a 4-2 loss.

Wildcat second baseman Tanner Simons had a great game, going 3-3 from the plate, while Curtis Bussard picked up the loss for the Wildcats, pitching 3.1 innings, allowing 6 hits, 2 earned runs, and collecting 6 strikeouts on the day.

The second game of the doubleheader went a different direction for the Wildcats.

The Wildcats got their first win in Florida with a 7-3 victory over Alderson Broaddus.

Nathan Ackerman led the Wildcats with a solid performance from the plate, going 3 of 4 with 2 runs and 1 RBI. Getting the win for the Wildcats on the mound was pitcher Dylan McGill, throwing 5 innings with 6 hits, 3 earned runs, and 2 strikeouts.

The Wildcats ended up losing a heartbreaker to No. 16 Grand Valley State 8-7 on March 9.

Wayne State had the 7-6 lead heading into the 9th inning, but couldn’t close it out.

Nathan Ackerman went 1-5 for the Wildcats but ended up with 3 RBI’s while also scoring a run.

Pitcher Ryan Zweck recorded the loss, pitching just two thirds of an inning, recording 2 hits, 1 earned run and 1 strikeout.

Wayne State faced off against Ohio Dominican, and ended up with a 7-3 victory the next day. Michael Herman went 3 of 5 from the plate, also scoring 1 run and 1 RBI. Pitching for the Wildcats was Mike Frericks, with 6.2 innings pitched, 6 hits, 3 earned runs and 8 strikeouts on the game.

It was Wayne State College vs. Wayne State University from Michigan, and the Wildcats lost 7-0.

The Wildcats couldn’t get much going offensively, as right fielder Chris May led the Wildcats at the plate, going 2-3. Nick Ragan got the loss on the day, pitching 6.1 innings, giving up 8 hits, 4 earned runs and 2 strikeouts.

The Wildcats came up 2 runs short in a 3-1 loss to Ohio Dominican on March 12. Curtis Bussard led the Wildcats, going 2-5 from the plate and scored 1 run.

Eric Browning had a great outing, pitching 7 innings, only giving up 2 hits, 0 earned runs, while striking out 7 batters. The Wildcats couldn’t bring enough runs in to win the game.

The Wildcats played their final game in Florida on March 13 against the Aquinas from Michigan.

Wayne State won with a score of 8-2, and got the bats going late in the game.

Shortstop Zak Leighton went 3-4 from the plate, scoring 2 runs and batting 1 in. Chris May also went 3-4 from the plate, scoring 1 run. Pitcher Dylan McGill got his second win of the year, pitching 6 innings, giving up 3 hits, 0 earned runs and 3 strikeouts.

Wayne State will open up conference play on Saturday, March 21 in Wayne, hosting Minot State in a doubleheader beginning at noon.