Game 1 Final Stats

Game 2 Final Stats

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University softball team (22-17 overall, 13-6 GLIAC) took both ends of a league doubleheader Sunday afternoon from visiting Ashland University (20-15 overall, 13-6 GLIAC) on Senior Day at the WSU Softball Stadium.  The Warriors edged the Eagles 2-1 in the opener, and out-scored the guests 8-5 in the nightcap on a day which seniors Makelle Barski (Trenton, Mich.), Emily Wickerham (North Branch, Mich.) and Stephanie Foreman (Cambridge, Ont. / Preston) were honored for their service to the program.

Sunday's first game was a pitchers duel between WSU's Briana Lee (Canton, Mich. / Salem) and AU's Amber McDermott.

The Eagles loaded the bases in the second inning with two outs but Lee came back from a 2-1 count to strikeout leadoff batter Jerrica Young.

Wayne State scored once in the second as freshman third baseman Jade McGarr (Guelph, Ont. / St. James Catholic) singled down the left field line.  Lee sacrificed her to second, then McGarr advanced to third on a groundout.  Freshman shortstop Gabby Williams (South Lyon, Mich.) singled to left center scoring McGarr.

Ashland tied the game in the fifth as Tawna Garver singled and pinch-runner Shelbie Prince was safe as the throw to second went into the outfield allowing Prince to score.

WSU regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth as McGarr had a leadoff single and was again sacrificed to second by Lee.  Junior Amanda Burnard (Canton, Mich. / Plymouth) then ripped a 1-0 offering into center field plating McGarr.

Lee (7-12) retired the Eagles in order in the seventh for her thid consecutive win.  She allowed just one unearned run on five hits with six strikeouts and three walks.

McDermott (7-4) surrendered two earned runs on nine hits with one walk and one strikeout.

McGarr went 3-for-3 and scored both Warrior runs, while Burnard and junior center fielder Logan White (Brantford, Ont. / Johnson C.V.I.) each went 2-for-3.

Game two was a completely different story as neither starting pitcher made it through the fifth inning.

Ashland jumped ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the third on a bloop RBI double by Jamie Weber and a double by Young.

WSU rallied for three runs in the top of the fourth as senior right fielder Stephanie Foreman (Cambridge, Ont. / Preston) singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Emily Bryce (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester Adams).  McGarr hit a grounder to third and by the time the third baseman looked Foreman back it was too late to throw to first.  After a force out at third, Burnard laced a two-run double into left center to knot the game at two.  Burnard had advanced to third as the throw home was wild.  Williams followed with an RBI single down the left field line putting WSU ahead to stay.

In the top of the fifth, the Warriors scored five times on four hits to take an 8-2 lead.  White reached on a bunt single and Foreman was safe on a misplayed sacrifice bunt.  Bryce line a 2-1 offering down the right field line scoring White.  McGarr's single plated Foreman.  Lee fouled off to 3-2 pitches then took ball four to load the bases.  Burnard added a two-run single up the middle and went to second on the throw.  After Zoe Myers replaced Sarah Alley in the circle for Ashland, Williams lofted a sacrifice fly to right scoring Lee with WSU's eighth run.

The Eagles made it interesting in the bottom of the fifth scoring three times to knock Warrior starter Mackenzie Boehler (Saginaw, Mich. / Swan Valley) out of the game.  Boehler allowed two hits and two walks in the first four batters she faced prompting Lee to return to the mound.  A one out walk followed by a sacrifice fly made it 8-5 but Lee induced a ground out to end the threat.

Lee issued back-to-back two out walks in the sixth but retired Young on a grounder to third.  She set Ashland down in order in the seventh for her fourth save of the season.

Boehler (14-3) earned the win despite allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits in four-plus innings.  She struck out two and walked three.  Lee did not allowed a hit in her three innings of action, but did walk three batters.

Alley (10-6) surrendered eight runs (six earned) on nine hits while striking out four and walking one.  Myers gave up just one hit in 2.2 innings in the circle.

Burnard again led the Warrior hit parade by going 3-for-3 with four RBI.  Seven other WSU batters had one hit apiece.