Game 1 Boxscore

Game 2  Boxscore

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University softball team (10-12 overall, 1-1 GLIAC) split its twinbill at the WSU Softbal Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the GLIAC openers for both the Warriors and the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals (5-11 overall, 1-1 GLIAC).

After rallying to tie the opener with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth, WSU allowed six runs on four hits in the top of the eighth as SVSU posted a 10-4 eight inning triumph.  The Warriors rebounded for a 6-4 victory in the nightcap.

In game one, the Cardinals manufactured a run in the top of the first, but Wayne State scored twice in the bottom of the second on a two-out, two-run single by junior second baseman Nikki Fulton (Stratford, Ont. / St. Michael Catholic S.S.) which plated sophomore Briana Lee (Canton, Mich. / Salem), who had doubled, and pinch-runner Ashley Dunford (Chesterfield, Mich. / L'Anse Creuse North).

SVSU scored three times in the top of the fifth on four hits, including three doubles off Lee (2-8).

Trailing 4-2 entering the  bottom of the sixth, WSU received a leadoff walk to senior Stephanie Foreman (Cambridge, Ont. / Preston) and sophomore Emily Bryce (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester Adams) followed with an RBI double to right center.  A sacrifice bunt by freshman Jade McGarr (Guelph, Ont. / St. James Catholic) moved Bryce to third where she scored on a single through the left side by Lee.

Four hits, two walks and a misplayed run-down allowed Saginaw Valley to score six times in the top of the eighth.

Chelsea Davis (1-0) earned the win in relief holding the Warriors scoreless over the final three innings.  Sarah Appold allowed four earned runs on five hits in her five innings of work.

Lee started in the circle for Wayne State before senior Emily Wickerham (North Branch, Mich.) entered in the fifth.  Lee re-entered for the seventh and gave way to freshman Amy Zaranek (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich. / Grosse Pointe North) in the eighth.  Wickerham retired four of the six batters she faced, while all told Lee surrendered eight earned runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings.  Zaranek allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits in her inning of work.

Junior Logan White (Brantford, Ont. / Johnson C.V.I.) and Lee each had two hits for Wayne State accounting for four of the Warriors seven base hits.

GAME TWO

WSU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as White walked with one out, moved to third on a single by Foreman and scored on a perfectly executed safety squeeze by Bryce.

The Cardinals answered with two runs in the bottom of the second on four hits off Warrior starter Mackenzie Boehler (Saginaw, Mich. / Swan Valley).

Wayne State regained the lead, 3-2, with a pair of runs in the fourth.  Bryce had a leadoff single and McGarr followed with a bunt single.  Both runners moved up on a ground out, and following a line out, freshman Catherine Rayos (Warren, Mich. / Mott/Macomb Mathematics Science Technology Center) delivered a two-run single to left.

WSU increased its lead with two more runs in the fifth as Foreman had a one-out single and scored on McGarr's two-out base hit.  Lee's single through the right side plated McGarr to make it 5-2.

The Cardinals scored once in the bottom of the frame and had runners at second and third when Boehler induced an inning ending flyout.

The Warriors regained the three-run advantage in the sixth as Rayos had a leadoff single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Gabby Williams (South Lyon, Mich.).  Two wild pitches by SVSU reliever Sarah Vrabel during Fulton's at bat scored Rayos.

Saginaw Valley tallied one run in the bottom of the seventh and had the tying run at bat, but Boehler recorded the final out on a 3-2 fly out.

Boehler (6-2) allowed four earned runs on 12 hits with four strikeouts.

Jillian Williamson (1-7) started for SVSU and allowed six earned runs on 10 hits in five innings of work.  Vrabel allowed just one hit and no runs in her two innings in the circle.

McGarr led WSU with three hits, while Foreman, Lee and Rayos each had multiple-hit games.

Wayne State has four GLIAC doubleheaders scheduled for this week with road twinbills on Tuesday (Hillsdale) and Wednesday (Lake Erie) followed by home two-game sets versus Tiffin (Saturday at 1 pm) and Ohio Dominican (Sunday at Noon).