CLERMONT, Fla. -- The Wayne State University softball team (18-3 overall) earned two victories on Thursday morning in Clermont, Fla.  The National Fast-Pitch Coaches Association (NFCA) 22nd-ranked Warriors topped Southern Connecticut, 9-1, in five innings and defeated Merrimack, 12-1. 

GAME ONE RECAP
WSU took an early 5-0 lead after the first inning as senior Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont. / Centennial C.V.I.) hit a leadoff double to start the scoring spree.  Sophomore Allie Buchanan (Cambridge, Ont. / Galt C.I.) bunted to reach first base and advance Butler to third.  Senior Jade McGarr (Guelph, Ont. / St. James Catholic reached base on a fielder's choice, before the base were loaded after a sophomore Kristen Lucas (Newmarket, Ont. / Mulock S.S.) single.  Freshman Megan Guitar (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) drove in four RBI as she blasted her first collegiate grand slam into left center. 

The Owls scored one run in the second inning as Catherine Ursillo hit a single and later scored on a Heather Jackson single up the left side. 
 
Wayne State added two more runs to the scoreboard in the fourth inning. Guitar led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Shelby Fridline (Almont, Mich.).  The Warriors were in a first and third situation when sophomore Hailey Lazarak (Allen Park, Mich.) hit a single up the middle. Guitar and Larzarek scored off a Butler double. 

WSU sealed the 9-1 victory with two insurance runs in the fifth inning as Lucas got on base from a single and advanced to second from a sophomore Kylee Barrett (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) single.  Guitar was walked to load the bases and freshman Ashley Messina (Troy, Mich.) drove in Lucas. Guitar scored off a senior Gabby Williams (South Lyon, Mich.) walk. 

IN THE CIRCLE 
Senior Mackenzie Boehler (Saginaw, Mich. / Swan Valley) pitched the full five innings for the Warriors to only give up one run and allowed five hits.  She struck three batters to zero walks. 

Victoria Ceballos pitched four innings for the Owls and gave up nine runs off 10 hits.  She struck out one batters and walked three. 

LEADING THE WARRIORS 
Butler, Guitar and Lucas all had two hits in Wayne State's 10-hit attacks. 

LEADING THE OPPOSITION
Brooke Franco had two hits for Southern Connecticut State. 

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GAME TWO RECAP
Both Wayne State and Merrimack were scoreless in the first two innings until WSU took a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Buchanan reached first base off a single and advanced to second on an error, while McGarr got on base after being hit by a pitch.  Both scored off a Lucas double to left center. 

WSU sparked offensively again in the fourth inning with three runs as Guitar singled to the shortstop. Lazarek came in to pinch hit from senior Ali Lince (St. Clair Shores, Mich. / Lakeview) and singled up the middle to advance Guitar.  Senior Shannon Hilton (Gilford, Ont. / Bradford) had a sacrifice bunt to move Guitar and Lazarek to third and second, before scoring on a homerun from Butler. 

Wayne State added two insurance runs in the fifth inning as McGarr earned a leadoff walk.  Lucas got on base off an error and advanced McGarr. Barrett loaded the bases after hitting a single to the left side. McGarr scored off a fly ball from Guitar with Lucas scoring on a pass ball at the bottom of the frame. 

Merrimack's Samantha Harris reached the base off an error and was replaced by pinch runner Breanna Dupuis.  She advanced to second off a fielder's choice error. Brittany Razo pushed the runners to third and second off a sacrifice bunt.  Dupuis scored on the throw from third to first to get the out. 

WSU notched five more run in the seventh as freshman Jamie MacNeil (Brampton, Ont. / St. Thomas Aquinas S.S.) reached third base off an error.  Lucas walked and Barrett drove in MacNeil off a sacrifice fly into center field. Guitar poked a single up the middle to score Lucas and Lince shot a double past the second baseman to move Guitar into scoring position at third. Hilton reached first base on an error and Guitar scored. Lince and Hilton crossed home plate on a Butler double. 

IN THE CIRCLE 
Butler improved to 11-2 and accepted the win for Wayne State.  She gave up zero hits and gave up one run.  Butler struck out six batters to one walk. 

Merrimack had three pitchers in the contest with Haley Currie starting. She pitched four inning and gave up five runs on seven hits.  Currie was relieved by Brook Bogacz for one inning as Bogacz surrendered one hit and two runs.  Melanie DeAlmeida pitched the remaining two innings and allowed five hits with three runs. 

LEADING THE WARRIORS 
Buchanan, Butler and Guitar all posted two hits and Butler garnered five RBI. 

LEADING THE OPPOSITION
Dupuis scored the lone run for the Merrimack Warriors. 

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UP NEXT 
The Wayne State Warriors will continue their Spring Break trip with two games on Friday. WSU will take on Franklin Pierce at 11:00 a.m. and Merrimack at 1:00 p.m. in Clermont, Fla.