DETROIT, Mich. - Parkside earned its 30th victory of the season on Saturday, reaching that mark for the first time since 2005 after sweeping Wayne State in a doubleheader. The Rangers received excellent starts on the mound from
Sam Mommer and
Noah Gerritson to secure the wins. Parkside has now taken two of the first three games in the four-game series.
GAME ONE
The Rangers struck early in game one, putting up a crooked number in the first inning thanks to patient at-bats and defensive miscues by Wayne State. After Peter Fusek walked and stole second, Parkside loaded the bases with another walk and a catcher's interference. Angel Rades opened the scoring with an RBI fielder's choice, and John St. Clair followed with a two-out double to left-center, plating two more to make it 3-0. All three runs were unearned.
Mommer kept the Warriors off balance through the middle innings, retiring the side in order in the third and working around base runners in the second and fourth. The freshman scattered six hits over 5.2 innings, allowing two earned runs while striking out six. Wayne State pulled within one in the fifth on an RBI double from Jacoby Dale, but Parkside responded in the sixth.
Carter Storti reached on an error and advanced to third on a single from Nathan Hanel. Koto Sato then ripped an RBI double down the left-field line to provide key insurance. From there, the bullpen took control. Austin Grube entered with two outs in the sixth and slammed the door, tossing 1.1 perfect innings to earn his second save of the year.
Defensively, the Rangers played error-free baseball, while Wayne State committed four errors—three of which led directly to runs. Sato led Parkside with two hits and a double, while Fusek added a stolen base and reached base twice.
GAME TWO
Gerritson delivered in the nightcap, earning his sixth win of the year with 7.0 strong innings, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out eight. Storti returned to the mound to record the final out of the game and earn his fifth save, stranding the tying run on deck in the ninth.
Storti also shined at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, and three runs scored. Sato added two hits, an RBI, and a run scored, while Josh Wicker drove in two runs on a sac fly and a key base hit.
After Wayne State tied the game 1-1 in the second on a solo homer from Aidan Arbogast, Parkside regained the lead for good in the fourth with a sacrifice fly from Wicker. The Rangers added two more in the fifth—one on an RBI groundout and another on a passed ball—and padded the lead in the sixth and eighth on timely hits from Rades and Wicker.
Following the two victories, Parkside improved to 30-18 overall and 12-11 in conference play. This marks the most wins they have ever had in GLIAC play. They currently own third place and with a win tomorrow, would clinch sole possession of the three seed.
NEXT
The Rangers and Warriors wrap up their series tomorrow morning. First pitch of the regular season finale is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. ET. For live coverage, visit ParksideRangers.com/coverage.
