Game 1 Final Stats Link

Game 2 Final Stats Link

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University softball team (24-19 overall, 15-8 GLIAC) took two games from visiting Lake Superior State University (7-20 overall, 5-19 GLIAC) on Saturday afternoon at the WSU Softball Stadium.  WSU won the opener 8-4 and took game two 1-0 in nine innings.

With the two victories, the Warriors secure a spot in the GLIAC tournament which starts on Friday at the Marathon Diamonds in Findlay, Ohio.

Since the Laker twinbill was originally slated for Sault Ste. Marie, LSSU was the home team for game one.

WSU snapped a scoreless tie with four runs in the top of the third on just two hits.  Junior Amanda Burnard (Canton, Mich. / Plymouth) led off with a single to right center and was safe at second on a throwing error with freshman Gabby Williams (South Lyon, Mich.) also reaching on the play.  Freshman Catherine Rayos (Warren, Mich. / Mott/Macomb Mathematics Science Technology Center) worked a walk to load the bases and junior Nikki Fulton (Stratford, Ont. / St. Michael Catholic S.S.) followed with a sacrifice fly to the shortstop in shallow centerfield that allowed pinch-runner Ashley Dunford (Chesterfield, Mich. / L'Anse Creuse North) to score the game's first run.  Williams and Rayos each advanced a base as the LSSU catcher mishandled the throw home.  Junior Logan White (Brantford, Ont. / Johnson C.V.I.) grounded back to the pitcher who looked Williams back and threw too late to first to get the speedy White.  Senior Stephanie Foreman (Cambridge, Ont. / Preston) then laced a two-run double to right center and sophomore Emily Bryce (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester Adams) added an RBI groundout.

The Warriors added singles run in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh to offset a three-run bottom of the sixth by Lake Superior.

Fulton had a sacrifice fly to center in the fourth scoring Burnard, who had a one-out single.  Burnard advanced to second then third on back-to-back singles by Williams and Rayos.

Freshman Jade McGarr (Guelph, Ont. / St. James Catholic) had a one-out bunt single in the fifth and advanced to second as the throw to first was wild.  Two walks sandwiched around an out moved McGarr to third where she scored on a wild pitch.

Fulton led off the sixth with a single, advanced to second on a passed ball, moved to third on a single by White and scored on a base hit by Foreman.

WSU's final run came on Fulton's third sacrifice fly of the contest plated Williams who had drawn a one-out walk after following off three two-strike pitches.

Briana Lee (Canton, Mich. / Salem) earned the win in the circle allowing four runs (just one earned) on nine hits to improve to 8-13.  She struck out nine and walked four.  LSSU starter Brandi Anderson (1-7) was tagged with the loss after surrendering five runs (four earned) on six hits in four innings of action.  Jade Stein pitched the final three innings for the Lakers giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits.  Laker hurlers combined to walk four batters with no strikeouts.

Fulton and Foreman each had three RBI in the contest with Foreman going 3-for-5.  Rayos went 2-for-3 while both White and Burnard went 2-for-4 as part of a 12 hit attack for the Warriors.

The nightcap was a pitchers duel as WSU freshman Mackenzie Boehler (Saginaw, Mich. / Swan Valley) tossed her sixth shutout of the season limiting the Lakers to just two hits in nine innings.  Boehler (15-4) struck out four and walked one.

The game's lone run came in the bottom of the ninth as Bryce led off with a single to left field.  McGarr followed with a single to put Bryce in scoring position.  Lee laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance both runners.  Burnard then ripped the first pitch she saw through the right side plating Bryce.

Felicia Gingrich (4-11) went the distance in the circle for LSSU allowing just one run on 10 hits in 8 1/3 innings.  She had two strikeouts and no walks.

McGarr went 3-for-4, while Foreman and Burnard each had two hits.

Wayne State will begin GLIAC tournament play on Friday.