DETROIT -- After celebrating his birthday on Monday along with a Wayne State sweep of Grand Valley State on Tuesday, 35th-year head coach
Gary Bryce earned another milestone with Friday's game one victory over visiting Lake Superior State University. Bryce notched his 1,187th career victory to snap a tie with legendary Florida State head coach JoAnne Graf (1984-2008). WSU won the opener 5-1, and claimed the nightcap by a 9-1 decision.
Bryce, who has led the Warriors to a No. 16 national ranking this year after compiling a 29-4 overall record and a 8-0 GLIAC mark, becomes the second coach in the state of Michigan to be among the top 10 all-time winningest NCAA softball coaches (division I, II and III combined) joining Michigan's Carol Hutchins. Michigan is the only state to have three of the top 14 coaches in terms of all-time wins as Central Michigan's Margo Jonker has tallied 1,176 victories.
GAME ONE RECAPSenior
Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont. / Centennial C.V.I) led off WSU with a single through the right side on a 1-0 pitch in the top of the first inning, but was called out at second off a junior
Allie Buchanan (Cambridge, Ont. / Galt C.I.)) fielder's choice bunt. Buchanan advanced to third on a single to left field from sophomore
Kristen Lucas (Newmarket, Ont. / Mulock S.S.) and was tagged out off a cut-off throw from the left fielder to shortstop then to the catcher at home plate.
The Lakers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth when Kylie Durre reached on an error and later scored from a double down the right field line by Teryn Williams.
Wayne State continued to collect at least one hit per inning, but couldn't capitalize until the fifth frame when senior
Ali Lince (St. Clair Shores, Mich. / Lakeview) shot a double on the first pitch into left field. Freshman
Megan Guitar (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) came in to pinch run and moved to third base off a sacrifice bunt from senior
Gabby Williams (South Lyon, Mich.) then scored on a Butler single to tie the game at 1-1.
Lince started the top of the seventh inning with a four-pitch walk and moved to third base when Williams smacked a double down the left field line. On a 1-1 pitch, Buchanan singled to the shortstop to plate Lince. The Warriors added three more insurance runs when senior
Jade McGarr (Guelph, Ont. / St. James Catholic) drilled a homerun that bounced off the left field foul pole to score Lince and Williams.
WSU sealed the 5-1 victory with three straight outs in the bottom of the seventh frame.
IN THE CIRCLE Butler improved to 18-2 and pitched a full game. She surrendered four hits, while striking out seven batters and walked two.
Alyssa Thayer (1-6) started for LSSU and took the loss. She allowed eight hits and gave up three runs, while striking out one batter to one walk. Alyssa Boucher came into the circle in relief for .2 innings. She surrendered two hits and allowed two runs.
LEADING THE WARRIORS Butler and Williams both had two hits in the Warriors' 10-hit attack, while McGarr posted three RBI.
LEADING THE OPPOSITION Katey Hendershott, Jenna Holt, Lindsey Pajot and Williams each had one hit.
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GAME TWO RECAPFreshman
Hannah McClounie (Essex, Ont. / St. Anne Catholic) worked a four-pitch walk in the bottom of the second inning of game two of the twinbill and scampered to an open third base on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore
Kylee Barrett (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington), then scored on a Guitar ground-out.
WSU continued the offensive spark with a single up the middle by freshman
Shelby Fridline (Almont, Mich.) and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Butler earned a four-pitch walk and later Fridline and Butler were plated by a McGarr single to right field. The Warriors took a 3-0 lead after the second frame.
In the bottom of the fourth, Wayne State scored five runs on five hits with McGarr hitting a two-out single to start the scoring spree and then scored off a double by Lucas. Junior
Emily Cava (Brampton, Ont. / Cardinal Leger S.S.) walk on the 3-1 pitch and moved to third base, while Lucas was plated off a single to right center by McClounie. Barrett laced a RBI single to left center, scoring Cava and advancing McClounie to third. Both McClounie and Barrett were plated on a single from Guitar to end the scoring frenzy. The Warriors extended their lead by eight (8-0).
LSSU's Hendershott had a full-count situation and earned the walk in the top of the fifth frame. She reached second base on a fielder's choice bunt by Taylor Steinhelper. Both runners advanced a base on a sacrifice bunt from Alyssa Boucher. Katie Martin singled to the shortstop and plated Hendershott. WSU ended the inning with a double play.
Wayne State finished with a four-pitch walk for freshman
Jamie MacNeil (Brampton, Ont. / St. Thomas Aquinas S.S.) in the bottom of the fifth. She was drove in on a double by Lucas, which gave the Warriors a 9-1 victory based on the mercy rule.
IN THE CIRCLE Senior
Mackenzie Boehler (Saginaw, Mich. / Swan Valley) earned the win (9-2) surrendering two hits and one run. She struck out nine batters to one walk.
Riley Durbano pitched 3.2 innings for the Lakers and allowed nine hits and seven earned runs. She walked four batters to zero strike outs. Hendershott came in for relief in the middle of the fourth frame and faced seven batters. She gave up three hits and two runs, while striking out two Warriors to one walk.
LEADING THE WARRIORSMcGarr went 3-for-3 at the plate and drove in two runs.
LEADING THE OPPOSITIONMartin and Steinhelper had one hit apiece.
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UP NEXT Wayne State remain undefeated (8-0) in the GLIAC and will travel to Midland, Mich. for a doubleheader match-up against Northwood on Sunday. First pitch is slated for noon.