Parkside baseball kept up its reputation of being tough on ranked opponents this season, as the team earned a split against No. 15 Wayne State Friday afternoon at Historic Simmons Field. The Rangers fell 5-0 in game one, but battled back to win game two 2-1 behind a strong 8.0 inning performance from
Nicholas Rana. This was Parkside's fourth win against ranked teams this season.
GAME 1: WAYNE STATE 5, PARKSIDE 0
Wayne State got a great outing from their starter Hunter Brown, who attracted various MLB scouts into the ball park to watch him. Brown pitched a complete-game shutout while striking out 10 batters.
Jarrett Rossiano pitched a good game on the other side, going 6.2 innings with five strikeouts and two earned runs.
The Rangers got five hits against Brown, but couldn't get the big ones with runners on base.
GAME 2: Parkside 2, Wayne State 1
It was Rana's best game of the season, as the senior went 8.0 innings allowing nine hits, one run, two walks with six strikeouts on 110 pitches. He earned the win and improved to 3-4 on the season. Rana worked out of back-to-back bases loaded jams in the sixth and seventh behind a strong defense.
Wayne State jumped out in front in the top of the third with a run, but the Rangers answered in the fourth thanks to a
Paul Weise RBI single, which tied it up at 1-1. Parkside took the lead in the bottom of the sixth as
Niko Diaz drew a bases loaded walk.
Hunter Weddel went 2-for-4 with a run while
Ricky West and Weise each had hits.
Aaron Cusimano pitched the ninth and earned his fourth save of the season.
SERIES FINALE
Parkside and Wayne State will finish out the series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon. It will be Military Appreciation Day, where all past and present members of the military will gain free admission and be entered into a raffle to win a Parkside Baseball camo hat.