LANSING, Mich. — Despite a late push, the Parkside baseball team (30–20) couldn't dig out of an early hole and fell to Wayne State (Mich.) (25–26), 9–7, in the opening round of the 2025 GLIAC Tournament Thursday night at Jackson Field. With the loss, the Rangers move into the elimination bracket and will face top-seeded Davenport on Friday at 3:00 p.m. ET in a must-win contest.
The Rangers got off to a promising start in the top of the first, manufacturing two runs thanks to a patient approach at the plate.
Dylan Sayles singled, stole second, and later scored on a bases-loaded walk by
Koto Sato. Moments later, a hit-by-pitch brought in a second run to give Parkside an early 2–0 lead. However, that advantage was short-lived.
Wayne State erupted for five runs in the bottom half of the inning off Parkside starter
Noah Gerritson, stringing together five hits—including a two-run double by Mason McGuire and a two-RBI single from Jacoby Dale. The Warriors kept their foot on the gas in the second, as Caleb Sanders launched a two-run homer to left, pushing the lead to 7–2.
Parkside responded with two runs in the fourth on RBI groundouts by
Nathan Hanel and
Peter Fusek, trimming the deficit to 7–4. But Wayne State answered again in the bottom half of the inning, using three hits and an RBI single from McGuire to extend its lead to 9–4.
Refusing to go quietly, the Rangers battled back in the seventh. A hit-by-pitch and back-to-back singles loaded the bases before Sato was hit again, bringing in a run.
John St. Clair followed with a bases-loaded walk to make it 9–6. Parkside added one more in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by
Owen Brock, scoring Fusek to bring the Rangers within two.
In the ninth, Parkside threatened once more. Pinch hitter
Jake Petasek drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch, but Wayne State closer Josh Getting buckled down to strike out two and seal the win, earning his fourth save of the season.
Gerritson (6–4) took the loss for the Rangers, allowing seven runs on six hits in just 1.1 innings. The Parkside bullpen settled things down, as
Maguire Delagrave,
Allen Leitner, and Fusek combined for 6.2 innings of solid relief, giving up just two runs the rest of the way.
Offensively, Parkside was led by Sayles (2-for-5, double, run) and Sato (1-for-3, 2 RBI, HBP). St. Clair doubled and drove in a run, while Brock, Fusek, and Hanel each added an RBI.
Now in win-or-go-home territory, Parkside will look to bounce back Friday afternoon as they take on No. 1 seed Davenport. Links to coverage can be found at ParksideRangers.com/coverage
