WAYNE, Neb. - In unseasonably warm conditions in northeastern Nebraska, Concordia-St. Paul's (10-12, 5-5 NSIC) bats produced six runs on seven hits in the ninth inning but were walked-off 13-12 in the first of a three-game NSIC series at Wayne State (14-9, 6-4 NSIC) on Friday afternoon at Pete Chapman Complex.

The teams will conclude the series with a 7/9 doubleheader tomorrow with the heat expected to reach the 90s.

Sophomore right fielder Eric Berg had his second 4-hit game of the season, going 4-6 with a pair of doubles, a homer and three RBIs. He carried the Golden Bears in the middle innings with an RBI double in the third and fifth, and a solo homer in the seventh, adding an infield single to keep CSP's ninth inning rally alive.

Wayne State held a 2-1 lead through the early part of the game, but with strong defense from Will Husemann at the hot corner, Concordia was able to keep the game close. Husemann converted a non-traditional double play with the bases loaded and no outs in the first inning, stepping on third and throwing home for the tag play as CSP held WSC without a run.

In the fourth, he did it again, this time an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded as he stepped on third and threw to first.

The momentum plays kept Concordia within distance, trailing 4-1 heading into the fifth inning when Charlie Harms took Husemann's throw to end the fourth by leading off the fifth with a solo homer. He went 2-5 on the day and leads the team with a .383 average.

Harms' homer ignited a 3-run fifth to tie the game as Gus Berger followed with a single and scored on Berg's second double of the day. Berg would move up to third on a pinch hit sacrifice bunt by Jack Setterlund, and score as Husemann tied the game with a sacrifice fly.

But the 4-4 tie wouldn't hold on a day when the two teams would combine for 25 runs and 33 hits. 

In the bottom of the fifth, Wayne State loaded the bases for a third time and this time the Wildcats produced the big hit, avoiding Husemann at the hot corner as ninth-batter Easton Mains delivered a grand slam. Mains had a big day, driving in and scoring four runs, going 2-5 with his second home run of the year while adding three stolen bases to give him 12 on the season.

In the seventh, still trailing 8-4, Berg started things with a one-out homer with Setterlund following with a single. He would score when Chase McQuad and Max Kaplan added back-to-back two-out singles, with Kaplan scoring Setterlund to pull CSP back within two, 8-6.

The Wildcats would put up a run in the bottom of the seventh and the bottom of the eighth to carry a 10-6 lead into the ninth, turning it over to their closer and third baseman Braden Cannon who entered the series with a 1.93 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a 2-1 record and five saves in nine appearances covering 9.1 innings.

Concordia welcomed him to the game with back-to-back singles by Setterlund and Husemann, with Kaplan adding a one-out hit to load the bases. Nick Carlson hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Setterlund, but putting the second out on the scoreboard and still trailing by three runs.

With the lineup turned over to the top, Kaden Johnson crushed a double to the gap in left center to score Husemann, with Johnson in scoring position as the game's tying run.

Harms followed with a line drive to center, with the ball handcuffing WSC's centerfielder for a two-run error to tie the game.

Gus Berger added his 10th double of the year, scoring Harms for the lead, and would move up to third on Berg's infield single up the middle and score on Setterlund's fly ball single down the right field line for a two-run lead.

In the bottom of the inning, Concordia gave up a double and a triple to start the inning, putting the tying run on third base with no outs. 

But another strong infield defensive play swung the momentum back to Concordia as a sharp grounder was fielded by Carlson, who made an under control throw to the plate where McQuade received the throw and applied the tag in time to retire the tying run.

Wayne State was able to execute, though, as Mains stole second and third base before a walk to Cam Madsen put runners on the corners with one out. Another walk loaded the bases, and Wayne State secured the walk-off two-run single to take the first game.

The Golden Bears out-hit WSC 19-14, but it was the 12 left on base for CSP compared to eight for WSC that proved costly in the final tally. In addition to the 12 LOB, CSP was also caught stealing twice on four attempts while WSC stole seven bases without being caught.

Concordia left seven runners in scoring position in the contest. 

Berger had another big day, going 3-5 with a double, three runs and an RBI. Setterlund also had a three-hit day, going 3-3 in four plate appearances including a pinch-hit sacrifice bunt that led to a run. Setterlund scored twice and drove one in. Johnson, Harms, McQuade and Kaplan all went 2-5. 

Ollie Yuhas started and worked into the fourth inning and did not factor into the decision. He allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits with just one walk. 

Ryley Wuebkers led the bullpen on a day when four relievers saw the mound. Wuebkers didn't allow an earned run in 3.0 innings of long relief, working the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. He allowed two unearned runs on three hits and a walk.

Justin Benjamin took the loss as the reigning NSIC Pitcher of the Week entered play after going 1-0 with a save and six perfect innings of relief last week.

Cannon picked up the win despite the crooked line provided to him by the CSP lineup, improving to 3-1 as he allowed six runs (two earned) on seven hits in one inning. Tyler Albert got the start and did not factor into the decision, allowing four runs on eight hits and three walks in four innings. Albert registered a game-high six strikeouts for WSC.