The Wayne State University baseball team lost to Hillsdale College by a score of 11-10 on Apr. 14, despite holding a six-run lead after five innings at Lenda and Glenda Hill Stadium at TFO Partners Field. The No. 21-ranked Warriors, now with a record of 26-9 overall, saw their advantage slip away as the Chargers rallied for a walk-off win.
This non-conference matchup comes as Wayne State prepares to return to Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play later in the week. The game was notable for its high scoring early on, with the Warriors posting runs in each of the first five innings. Drew Hill opened scoring with an RBI single, and Bennett Hitzelberger added a two-run double in the first inning. Cooper Clark hit his first collegiate home run in the second inning, becoming the thirteenth different Warrior to homer this season.
Wayne State extended its lead further when Hill hit his seventh home run of the year in the third inning, tying him for most on the team this season. The Warriors continued to build their total through singles from Alfredo Velazquez and Owen Tuccinardi and doubles from Caleb Sanders and Hitzelberger. However, after scoring ten runs by the fifth inning, Wayne State was held scoreless over the final four frames while Hillsdale mounted its comeback.
The pitching staff saw nine different Warriors take the mound during this mid-week contest; only starter Will DeMasse pitched more than one inning. Despite strong performances from several relievers—including perfect innings by Coy Plummer and Carson Tehan—Hillsdale tied it up with six runs in the seventh before securing victory in their last at-bat.
The Wayne State Warriors Men’s Baseball program competes at NCAA Division II level within GLIAC according to the official website. The team plays its home games in Detroit, Michigan and is known as “the Warriors,” with “W the Warrior” serving as mascot according to university sources. In program history, Wayne State captured its GLIAC Tournament title in 2010 as reported by their official site.
Looking ahead, Wayne State will resume conference play against Roosevelt starting Friday afternoon.
