ROLLA, MO  —  A four-run ninth inning highlighted the fight of the Miners, but Missouri S&T dropped its season opener, 7-4, to Wayne State College Saturday afternoon at the Ballpark at S&T. Heavy rain yesterday led to a delay in the doubleheader, resulting in a cancellation of game two due to fading sunlight.

Locked in a scoreless duel early, Jake Schisler (Quincy, IL/Quincy Notre Dame) struck out seven over five innings and kept Wayne State off the board through four. The Miners found some success at the plate early, recording a hit in each of the first three innings but leaving all three stranded. The Wildcats broke through in the fifth to begin the scoring, bringing home a lone run off of a sacrifice fly to right field. S&T looked primed to respond in the bottom of the 6th, loading the bases with just one out after singles by Drew Baugus (Kirkwood, MO/Kirkwood) and Bricen Smith (Perry, GA/Mount de Sales Academy). Wayne State was able to get out of the inning though, getting the last two outs on a short fly ball to left field that prevent Smith from heading home and a groundout to first.

The top of the 8th would prove costly for the Miners, with a pair of errant throws to first base leading to two S&T errors that allowed three runs to score in the inning as WSC extended their lead to 5-0. The Miners got into scoring position again in the bottom of the 8th, putting Garrett Meyer (Jacksonville, IL/Jacksonville) on third base after a hit by pitch and a single by Denton Damgaard (Colorado Springs, CO/Cheyenne Mountain HS) but would come away without a run, leading to a top of the 9th that saw Wayne State build their lead to seven runs.

The Miners made their push in the 9th. Nicholas Hooper was hit by a pitch to start the inning, Baugus singled, and Smith doubled home the first run. Will Beckham (Mountain Home, AR/Mountain Home) followed with an RBI single to right field, bringing Baugus home and sending Smith to third. Meyer and Damgaard both drove in runs later in the inning, cutting the deficit to three and bringing the tying run on deck before a groundout ended the game in a 7-4 win for WSC.

S&T's offense showed steady production throughout, finishing with 12 hits to Wayne State's 10. Baugus led the way with a 4-for-5 performance, while Smith and Damgaard each added two hits. Schisler's seven strikeouts are the most by a Miner in a season opener since Dylan Mollett's eleven against Minnesota Crookston in 2022.

What's Next
The Miners conclude their series against Wayne State with a doubleheader tomorrow (9, 7 inning format), starting at 11am.

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