The bats came alive this past week as WSC hit a total of 11 home runs in the last three doubleheaders.

The first contest of the week was on Wednesday against Upper Iowa University in the last home game for the Wildcat seniors.

The opening game was a hitting battle between the two teams, with the Peacocks taking an early lead of 7-0, but only to have WSC rally and tie the game at 8-8 by the end of the seventh inning.

In extra innings, the Peacocks scored three runs in the top of the eighth to win 11-8 against the ‘Cats.

“When going into the box, I try to keep a clear mind,” junior Sam O’Brien said. “I have to focus on seeing good pitches and making solid contact.”

O’Brien was one of three Wildcats to hit a home run in the game, along with seniors Kaiti Williams and Kelcie Bormann.

WSC came into the second game swinging, earning the team a lead of 7-0 in the first two innings.

Bormann started the rally with a first inning, two-out, two-run home run, followed by a RBI double by sophomore Melanie Alyea to finish the inning with a 3-0 lead.
WSC improved their lead to 7-0 with a four-run second inning.

The score wouldn’t change until the fifth inning, when Megan Hagemann hit a solo homer to end the game and give the ‘Cats an 8-0 win.

The power hitting followed the Wildcats as they continued their week in an away doubleheader against Concordia University, St. Paul where five home runs helped the ‘Cats gain the sweep against the Golden Bears.

In the first game, WSC scored in five of the seven innings played to help finish with a 9-4 win.

Three players had a multi-hit game (Williams, Bormann and O’Brien) while Hagemann added another two-run homer to the books.

The second game saw WSC with 18 hits.

Junior Lexie Loos had four singles, while Hagemann, Bormann, Alyea and O’Brien all chipped in home runs as well as multiple hits during the game to give the Wildcats a 9-3 win against the Golden Bears.

“Those games were a good confidence booster for us,” senior Tiffani Housh said. “Having our hitters be able to feel like they could do anything when going up to the plate is something that will help us win no matter what team we are playing.”

On Sunday, in the last league games of the season, the Wildcats took a split against Minnesota State Mankato.

In the first game of the day, the Wildcats were held to just three hits while the Mavericks took the 9-0 win after five innings.

However, the ‘Cats came back in the second game with vengeance.

The Wildcats were the first to score when O’Brien hit a solo home run in the second inning. WSC continued to score in the third inning with two hits and an error by MSU, making the score 4-0.

Bormann was the pitcher for the game who finished with eight strike outs to hold Mankato to a 4-1 loss.

“When pitching, I just wanted to keep the hitters on their toes, pitch my game and not let the little things get to me,” Bormann said. “I knew the defense was going to have my back so I just threw.”

“The four years I’ve been at Wayne, we have never beat Mankato,” senior Alex Schmidt said. “It felt like a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders.”

“It was an amazing feeling ending our last conference game with a win, especially against Mankato,” Bormann said. “They were such a mental block for us for four years and to finally beat them makes us believe that we can beat anyone.”

WSC will play Thursday against Northern State University in the NSIC Conference Tournament.

_________________________________________________________

Game One

Upper Iowa………….. 340 000 13 – 11 12 3

Wayne State………… 020 140 10 – 8 11 1

Win – Flood, J. (11-12). Loss – Miller, C. (8-4).

2B – Mnichowicz; Sammons, K.; Marlinghaus; Bormann, K.; Schropp, A..

HR – Mnichowicz; Flood, J. 2; Williams, K.; Bormann, K.; O’Brien, S..

Game Two

Upper Iowa…………… 000 00 – 0 4 0

Wayne State………….. 340 01 – 8 12 1

Win – Bormann, K. (16-8). Loss – Bjork, T. (4-5).

2B – Bormann, K.; O’Brien, S.; Alyea, Me..

HR – Bormann, K.; Hagemann, M..

Concordia

Game One

Wayne State………….. 201 220 2 – 9 10 2

Concordia-St. Paul… 000 300 1 – 4 9 3

Win – Scheffert, S (7-6). Loss – Kappes, S. (10-20).

2B – O’Brien, S.(9); Schropp, A.(9).

HR – Hagemann, M.(3); Munkwitz, F.(1); Koncar, E.(3).

Game Two

Wayne State…………. 013 122 0 – 9 18 0

Concordia-St. Paul… 000 120 0 – 3 5 0

Win – Bormann, K. (17-8). Loss – Schanks, H. (4-9).

2B – O’Brien, S.(10); Koncar, E.(3).

HR – Bormann, K.(7); O’Brien, S.(7); Alyea, Me.(3); Hagemann, M.(4).

Minnesota State

Game One

Wayne State………….. 000 00 – 0 3 0

Minnesota State……… 252 0X – 9 9 1

Win – Ries, Coley (19-14). Loss – Scheffert, S. (7-7).

2B – Buhmann, S..

3B – Klein, Tatum.

Game Two

Wayne State………….. 013 000 0 – 4 8 0

Minnesota State…….. 000 001 0 – 1 7 1

Win – Bormann, K. (18-8). Loss – Bemis, Libby (16-6).

2B – Hagemann, M.; Schropp, A..

HR – O’Brien, S.; Sager, Molly.