RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Wayne State University softball team (5-2 overall) had mixed results on Friday during the opening day of the Shaw UniversityChallenge being held at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex with 20 schools competing.
The Warriors were edged 3-2 in 10 innings in the opener by Concord University (3-2) in the third inning of the international tie-breaker rule. WSU rebounded for a 4-1 triumph over eighth-ranked Georgia College (17-4) in the nightcap.
GAME ONE RECAPThe Warriors struck first in the top of the first as senior third baseman
Jade McGarr (Guelph, Ont. / St. James Catholic) drew a two-out walk on a full count pitch. Senior designated player
Shelby Spano (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Stevenson) followed with a single on a 2-2 pitch and freshman shortstop
Hannah McClounie (Essex, Ont. / St. Anne Catholic) plated McGarr with an RBI single to center on a 2-2 offering.
WSU increased its lead to 2-0 in the top of the fourth as sophomore
Kylee Barrett (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) had a leadoff single and advanced to second on a bunt single by classmate
Hailey Lazarek (Allen Park, Mich.). Sophomore backstop
Shelby Fridline (Almont, Mich. / SC4) reached and moved up both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Barrett scored on a pinch-hit sacrifice fly by junior
Emily Cava (Brampton, Ont. / Cardinal Leger S.S.).
The Mountain Lions knotted the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth as Aarron Ward had a two-out single and Alyssa Morris followed with a two-run home run to left center on a 1-2 offering.
Neither team had a baserunner in the sixth or seventh innings before the international tie-breaker rule took effect for the eighth inning.
Both squads were able to get the placed runner to third in the eighth but that was it.
After the Warriors failed to score in the top of the ninth, Concord loaded the bases with two outs but WSU pitcher
Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont. / Centennial C.V.I.) struck out CU's leadoff hitter Alayna Furr on three pitches.
Wayne State was unable to get a runner in from third in the 10th with one out, and the Mountain Lions scored the placed runner (Furr) on a one-out single by Abby Beatty.
IN THE CIRCLESenior
Mackenzie Boehler (Saginaw, Mich. / Swan Valley) started for Wayne State and limited Concord to two earned runs on five hits in five innings of work. Boehler struck out four and walked one. Butler went into the circle to start the bottom of the sixth and allowed just the one hit while striking out 10 of the 18 batters she faced to become WSU's all-time strikeout leader passing Casey Hanes, who recorded 649 strikeouts in 2009 and 2010.
Allie Reid tossed the first two innings for Concord allowing one run on three hits with two walks and no strikeouts. Ward pitched the final eight innings limiting WSU to one run on three hits with five strikeouts to zero walks.
LEADING THE WARRIORSSix different Wayne State batters had one hit apiece, with Butler's double being the lone extra-base hit.
LEADING THE OPPOSITIONFurr and Ward each had two hits for the Mountain Lions.
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GAME TWO RECAPThe Warriors pounded out 11 hits against Bobcat starting pitcher Carly Lewis, who entered the contest with a 9-1 record and a 0.75 ERA.
WSU took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Butler led off the game with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior outfielder
Allie Buchanan (Cambridge, Ont. / Galt C.I.). Butler went to third on a single by McGarr and scored on a double by Cava.
George College tied the game in the bottom of the first as Baylee Hall had a one-out single and scored on a Wayne State error.
Butler settled in and retired eight of the next nine GC batters until a one-out double in the fourth by Taylor Campbell, but pinch-runner Emily Robertson was stranded at second.
The Warriors snapped the deadlock in the top of the fifth with a pair of runs. McGarr had a leadoff single and Cava followed with a bunt single. McClounie earned a walk to load the bases, and senior
Shannon Hilton (Gilford, Ont. / Bradford) had an infield single to plate McGarr. Senior catcher
Ali Lince (St. Clair Shores, Mich. / Lakeview) hit into a fielder's choice with Cava scoring an insurance run.
After a leadoff single in the fifth by GC's Holland Coursey, Butler retired the final nine Bobcat hitters.
WSU added a run in the top of the sixth with Butler reaching on an error and going to third on a GC miscue, before scoring on a groundout by McGarr.
IN THE CIRCLEButler hurled all seven innings allowing just one unearned run on three hits with six strikeouts to one walk.
Lewis allowed four runs (three earned) on the aforementioned 11 hits with seven strikeouts to three walks.
LEADING THE WARRIORSButler, McGarr, Cava and Hilton each had two hits apiece.
LEADING THE OPPOSITIONHall, Campbell and Coursey had the GC hits.
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UP NEXTWayne State will play Fairmont State (1 p.m.) and Clarion (4 p.m.) on Saturday as part of the Shaw Softball Challenge.
