Eastern Wayne Today

Wayne State University will begin its Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) baseball schedule with a four-game series against Purdue Northwest. The series will run from Friday to Sunday. Game one is set for a 4 p.m. start on Friday, followed by a doubleheader on Saturday at 2 p.m., and a finale on Sunday at 1 p.m., all scheduled in eastern time.

The Wayne State lineup has been led by Bennett Hitzelberger, with a .375 batting average. Additional contributors include Mason McGuire (.354), Owen Tuccinardi (.317), and Reagan Paulina (.316). Jacoby Dale adds to the mix with a .291 average. Logan Van Sicklen tops the home run chart with four, while Hitzelberger and Tuccinardi lead in RBIs with 19 each. McGuire and Hitzelberger share the lead in stolen bases with seven each.

Macio Miller and Gabe Nazelli lead the Warriors in innings pitched, with 24.2 and 21.1 innings, respectively. Miller has an ERA of 4.38 and Nazelli boasts a 4.15. Meanwhile, Ethan Getting, the recent GLIAC Pitcher of the Week, has shown promise with 17 strikeouts in 13.2 innings and a 3.29 ERA.

Purdue Northwest's team, after an 8-4 start, has lost five consecutive games, bringing their record to 8-9. At home, they hold a 5-5 record. Coach Dave Griffin, in his 12th season, has guided his team with six batters hitting around .300 or better. AJ Reid leads with a .474 average, followed by Kam Earley (.344), Ethan Imlach (.333), Dan Puplava (.333), Cole Olson (.300), and Joey Guiliano (.298).

The Pride's team ERA stands at 6.77, led by Conor Pangburn with 19.2 innings pitched and a 7.32 ERA. Jake Nightingale has been referred to as the team's most effective pitcher with a 2.92 ERA over 12 and one-third innings. Pangburn also holds the top spot in wins with a 3-1 record and leads in strikeouts with 18.