1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Ex	R	H	Err
Northern Michigan University	0	0	0	0	3	1	0	0	0		4	10	0
South Carolina State University	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	4	x		6	7	0

Wildcat Baseball drops exhibition heartbreaker at South Carolina State.

The NMU Wildcats held a 4-1 lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning against Division I South Carolina State, but the bullpen could not hold on, as SCSU scored one run in the seventh and four in the eighth on a Bobby Stuart grand slam home run.

The early part of the game was dominated by pitching. Wildcats starter C. W. Mayher lived up to his nickname of "Mr. Excitement" by striking out 8 batters while walking just one in his 6 innings of work. Mayher struck out the side in the first on just 11 pitches. He did not give up a hit until the fourth inning. Offensively, the Wildcats had several chances. Brandon Wislocki opened the game with a double and promptly stole third two pitches later, but failed to score. The Wildcats opened the scoring in the fifth when Dave Peck hit a one out homer. He was followed by consecutive singles by Tom Bates and Eric Ingles who were driven in by a two out Brandon Wislocki triple.

South Carolina St eventually got to Mayher in the fifth when Stuart singled, Jake Grisholm hit a ground rule double and Reggie Benett drove Stuart home with a sacrifice fly to center field. After a solo home run by Peck gave the Wildcats a 4-1 lead, South Carolina State opened the flood gates in their half of the seventh on consecutive doubles by Grisholm and Bennett off of relief pitcher Jason Nueman. With one out in the eighth, Damian Rowland walked and Sammy McMicheal doubled him over to second. After Nueman walked Lenny Cartwright intentionally, Kyle Morris grounded to Clay Roth, who retired the lead runner at the plate for out number two. However Stuart found a 2-0 fastball from Nueman to his liking and drove it over the wall in deep right. Will Phillips came on and retired Grisholm to end the inning.

The Wildcats had a chance in the ninth when pinch hitters Jody Davis and James Haas hit back-to-back singles, but SCSU relief pitcher Alvin Baines struck out Peck, forced Bates into a fielders choice and ended the game with a Sean Belotte fly out to left.

"We played well and had impressive performances by both Brandon Wislocki and C. W. Mayher, but our bullpen could not hold the lead and out bats failed us in the ninth," Manager Rob Preseau said following the game. "We have to hold our heads up high and say we were able to play with a Division I squad."

Brandon Wislocki was 3 for 4, all extra base hits, with a stolen base and 2 RBI. "I liked their pitching," he said. "Both of their guys were throwing mostly off speed stuff that I was able to drive all over the place. I just wish I had another chance to come up in the ninth."

The Wildcats now travel to Washington, DC where they will play Monday and Tuesday night games against National Defense University and Trinity College.