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Box Score 2 Box Score (HTML) Game 1 l
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Photo GalleryDETROIT -- The Wayne State University softball team (33-9 overall, 13-5 GLIAC) took care of business on Wednesday afternoon at the WSU Softball Stadium recording a pair of 8-0 mercy-rule victories over Lake Erie College (5-32 overall, 1-23 GLIAC).
The Warriors ranked 30th by the NFCA this week, out-hit the visiting Storm 22-2 on the afternoon and moved within one victory of clinching a GLIAC tournament spot for a 30th consecutive season since the tournament began in 1985.
Game 1In the opener, WSU redshirt freshman pitcher
Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont. / Centennial C.V.I.) notched her third no-hitter of the season, while also recording her 11th double-digit strikeout total of the campaign. She faced just 20 batters in the six-inning affair tallying 13 strikeouts, including at least two in every inning. The only LEC batters to reach came on a fielding error and a strikeout passed ball. Butler improved to 16-4 with the win and lowered her GLIAC leading ERA to 0.72. She has a conference-best 202 strikeouts in 136 innings to only 16 walks.
WSU began the scoring spree in the bottom of the first as
Emily Cava (Oakville, Ont. / Cardinal Leger S.S.) singled, stole second, advanced to third on a single by Butler and scored on an RBI groundout by
Emily Bryce (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester Adams). Butler was also able to score on the play as the throw across the diamond went down the left field line.
In the bottom of the fourth,
Gabby Williams (South Lyon, Mich.) and
Shannon Hilton (Gilford, Ont. / Bradford) led off the frame with back-to-back singles. Cava then made it 3-0 with an RBI single plating Williams.
The Warriors tallied three runs in the bottom of the fifth on a trio of hits.
Jade McGarr (Guelph, Ont. / St. James Catholic) had a one-out single followed by a walk to
Amanda Burnard (Canton, Mich. / Plymouth). Williams' bloop single into right center loaded the bases before McGarr scored on Hilton's sacrifice fly. Cava tallied her third hit of the contest scoring both Burnard and Williams.
After Butler retired the side in order in the top of the sixth, Wayne State ended the game with two runs in the bottom of the inning.
Logan White (Brantford, Ont. / Johnson C.V.I.) had an infield single and Butler followed with a base hit. A double steal with one out put two runners in scoring position with White scoring on a sacrifice fly by
Julie Ingratta (Markham, Ont. / St. Thomas of Villanova College), before McGarr's single plated Butler.
Cava went 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored, with Butler adding a pair of hits and two runs scored. Williams went 2-for-2 with two runs scored, while McGarr chipped in with a pair of hits.
Game 2The nightcap featured the second half of Wayne State's dynamic duo in the circle in junior
Briana Lee (Canton, Mich. / Salem). Lee (16-2) is second in the GLIAC in ERA and third in strikeouts, and she did not disappoint. Lee struck out four and allowed just two hits and three walks in her four innings of work.
Mackenzie Boehler (Saginaw, Mich. / Swan Valley) tossed a 1-2-3 fifth recording two strikeouts.
Offensively, the Warriors scored at least once in every inning.
In the top of the first, Butler smacked a two-run home run to right field.
The next inning McGarr walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Burnard. After a wild pitch and a strikeout,
Devin Hentschel (Wyoming, Mich. / Rogers) was hit by a pitch and promptly stole second. Cava produced a two-run single through the right side.
In the third, Butler had a leadoff double and scored on a single by Bryce. Bryce later crossed home plate on a sacrifice fly by McGarr to make it 6-0.
LEC reliever Hannah Shevenell recorded two outs to start the fourth but White doubled, then scored on a double by Butler, her third extra-base hit of the contest.
In the fifth,
Catherine Rayos (Warren, Mich. / Mott) had a two-out bunt single, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Hentschel.
Butler paced the Warriors nine-hit attack in game two by going 3-for-3 with three RBI. Cava had two hits and two RBI.
Butler has a hit in 10 of her last 11 games, while Cava continued her hot streak extending her hitting streak to nine games and her on-base streak to 11 games. During her nine-game hitting streak, Cava has raised her average from .226 to .337 by going 16-for-30 along with three walks and two hit by pitches for an on-base percentage of .600.
Wayne State will conclude the regular season with a pair of home doubleheaders this weekend. Northwood visits Motown on Friday for a 3:30 p.m. twinbill, with Lake Superior coming to the WSU Softball Stadium for Senior Day on Saturday. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
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