CLERMONT, Fla. -- Early offense propelled the Wayne State University softball (21-4 overall) team over Saint Michael's in a doubleheader on Saturday morning at Legends Way Park in Clermont, Fla. The Warriors concluded their Spring Break trip by topping the Purple Knights, 8-0 and 9-1.
GAME ONE RECAPWSU batted around the lineup to take the early 6-0 lead after the first inning as junior
Allie Buchanan (Cambridge, Ont. / Galt C.I.) hit a single on the left side to start the scoring spree. She stole second and was plated by a senior
Jade McGarr (Guelph, Ont. / St. James Catholic) single. Sophomore
Kristen Lucas (Newmarket, Ont. / Mulock S.S.) walked on six pitches with one out then advanced to third and McGarr scored on a junior
Emily Cava (Brampton, Ont. / Cardinal Leger S.S.) double.
Freshman
Hannah McClounie (Essex, Ont. / St. Anne Catholic) loaded the bases on a walk and sophomore
Kylee Barrett (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) was hit by a pitch to score Lucas. Classmate Haley Lazarek (Allen Park, Mich.) reached first on a fielder's choice situation and plated Cava. McClounie scored and Lazarek moved to second on an error. Senior catcher
Ali Lince (St. Clair Shores, Mich. / Lakeview) had a single scoring Lazarek to make it 6-0.
In the bottom of the sixth, Wayne State added an insurance run as McGarr had a one-out single up the middle and Lucas drilled a single into center field to advance McGarr to third. Cava followed with a sacrifice fly to right field scoring McGarr to make it 7-0.
Pinch-hitter
Shelby Fridline (Almont, Mich.) had a single towards shortstop and advanced two bases off an error. Buchanan had a two-out RBI single to complete the scoring.
IN THE CIRCLEJunior
Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont. / Centennial C.V.I.) improved to 13-2 with the win and pitched four innings. She surrendered two hits and struck out six batters to zero walks. Freshman
Megan Guitar (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) came in for relief and pitched one inning. She struck out one batter.
Anna Meusel started for the Purple Knights and allowed seven hits and seven runs. She walked two batters in two innings. Molly Feeney pitched the remaining two innings and surrendered four hits with one run. She struck out one batter to zero walks.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
McGarr led the team with three hits, two runs and a RBI.
LEADING THE OPPOSITION
Christina Brazeau and Kaleigh Fallon both had one hit.
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GAME TWO RECAP
Wayne State and Saint Michael's were scoreless in to the first frame of the second game, but the Warriors took a 1-0 lead in the second inning as McClounie bunted, advanced to second on the throw and was plated on a sacrifice fly from Barrett.
In the top of the fourth, WSU exploded offensively with eight runs off eight hits. Senior
Shelby Spano (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Stevenson) drilled a leadoff double to left field and advanced to third off a McClounie single. Both Spano and McClounie were plated on a two RBI triple from Guitar, before Barrett reached on a fielder's choice to score Guitar. Barrett rounded the bases off a fielder's choice situation and a single from Butler. Buchanan drove in Barrett on a single up the middle to increase the lead to five (5-0).
McGarr continued the scoring spree with a RBI single past the pitcher to plate Fridline and Spano had a two RBI single to score Buchanan and Butler with McGarr drove in on a McClounie hit to end the scoring. The Warriors led 9-0 after the frame.
Hannah St. Don drilled a leadoff single on a 1-1 count in the bottom of the fourth. She advanced to second of a sacrifice bunt from Danielle DelGreco and moved to third on a Judi Barcavage hit. St. Don was plated on a wild pitch to decrease the Warrior's lead to eight (9-1). Wayne State sealed the win after three outs in the fifth inning due to the mercy rule.
IN THE CIRCLESophomore
Haley Hurd (Atwater, Ohio / Waterloo) earned the win and gave up one run off two hits. She pitched three innings, while striking out three batters to one walk. Butler came into the circle as relief and surrendered one hit and struck out two batters to one walk.
Molly Feeney pitched all five innings and allowed nine runs and 13 hits.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Butler went three-for-four at the plate and scored one run for Wayne State.
LEADING THE OPPOSITION
Barcavage, DelGreco and St. Don each had one hit.
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UP NEXT
WSU will begin GLIAC play with a doubleheader at Walsh on March 25th in North Canton, Ohio. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
