RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Wayne State University softball team (7-2 overall) extended its current winning streak to three games with a pair of decisive victories on Saturday. In the opener, the Warriors blanked Fairmont State 8-0 in six innings, then upended Clarion 10-2 in the nightcap in a five-inning affair.
GAME ONE RECAPAfter the Fighting Falcons had a leadoff single by Courtney Iacobacci, she was erased on a caught stealing. The next FSU batter reached on walk, but then Warrior junior hurler
Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont. / Centennial C.V.I.) retired the next 14 Fairmont hitters in order, before senior
Mackenzie Boehler (Saginaw, Mich. / Swan Valley) struck out the side on 11 pitches in the bottom of the sixth.
Sophomore
Kylee Barrett (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) walked on four pitches with one out in the top of the third, then scored on a two-out triple to right field by Butler. Junior outfielder
Allie Buchanan (Cambridge, Ont. / Galt C.I.) followed with a triple to left plating Butler to make it 2-0.
In the top of the sixth, Wayne State exploded for six runs on seven hits. Senior
Shelby Spano (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Stevenson) had a one-out single and freshman shortstop Hannan McClounie (Essex, Ont. / St. Anne Catholic) drilled a double into left center. Senior
Shannon Hilton (Gilford, Ont. / Bradford) had an RBI single scoring pinch-runner
Megan Guitar (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington). Senior catcher
Ali Lince (St. Clair Shores, Mich. / Lakeview) had a single scoring McClounie to make it 4-0.
Pinch-hitter
Emily Cava (Brampton, Ont. / Cardinal Leger S.S.) had a two-run triple to right center scoring Hilton and pinch-runner
Ashley Messina (Troy, Mich.) with Butler's RBI single plating Cava.
Jade McGarr (Guelph, Ont. / St. James Catholic) had a two-out RBI single to complete the scoring.
IN THE CIRCLEButler struck out seven and walked one while allowing one hit and facing 16 batters in her five innings of work. Boehler had three strikeouts in the bottom of the sixth.
Devin Williams allowed eight runs (all earned) on 12 hits in her six innings with three strikeouts and three walks.
LEADING THE WARRIORSButler, Hilton, McGarr and Spano each had two hits as part of WSU's 12-hit attack.
LEADING THE OPPOSITIONIacobacci had a single and Joni Tyree reached on a walk as the WSU pitchers faced just 19 batters in six innings.
========================================================================================
GAME TWO RECAPThe Golden Eagles took an early 1-0 lead on a two-out solo home run in the top of the first by Casey Wilcox. WSU responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame.
Butler walked and Buchanan and McGarr followed with back-to-back bunt base hits. Cava then cleared the bases with a three-run triple down the right field line. Cava later scored on a passed ball.
Clarion pulled within 4-2 in the third as Marissa Peterson singled and scored an unearned run on a sacrifice fly by Christina Tressler.
For the second time on the afternoon (sixth inning of game one), the Warriors scored times in an inning. McClounie reached on an error to start the bottom of the third and scored on a suicide squeeze by Barrett. Senior
Gabby Williams (South Lyon, Mich.) had an RBI single to make it 6-2. Butler and Buchanan had back-to-back singles with Buchanan's hit driving in Williams increasing the WSU lead to 7-2. McGarr plated both runners with a two-run triple to right center, then McGarr later scored on an illegal pitch.
IN THE CIRCLESophomore
Haley Hurd (Atwater, Ohio / Waterloo), who was 0-1 in three pitching appearances as a freshman, earned her first collegiate victory by limiting Clarion to two runs (one earned) on five hits. Hurd struck out six and walked two.
Paige Baker started for the Golden Eagles and pitched the first three innings. She allowed 10 runs (four earned) on 10 hits with three strikeouts to two walks. Peterson retired three of the four batters she faced in the bottom of the fourth.
LEADING THE WARRIORSWilliams went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while Buchanan and McGarr each had two hits. The top three in the WSU order went 5-for-9 with six runs scored and three RBI.
LEADING THE OPPOSITIONPeterson had two of Clarion's five hits.
==============================================================================
UP NEXTWayne State will conclude play in the 2016 Shaw Challenge with a pair of contests on Sunday. The Warriors will play Millersville at 10 a.m. followed by a noon contest against Queen's University of Charlotte (N.C.).