DETROIT --  The 13th-ranked Wayne State University softball team (31-4 overall, 10-0 GLIAC), coming off an 11-day layoff between games due to the weather in Michigan lately, won a pair of home games, 7-2 and 5-2, over visiting Ferris State University (21-13 overall, 6-4 GLIAC) Wednesday afternoon.

GAME ONE RECAP

The Bulldogs scored twice in the top of the first off Warrior starter Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont. / Centennial C.V.I.).  A leadoff walk, followe by a single from Michelle Tononi put FSU in business.  Butler retired the next two batters, before a blooper in the hole at short off the bat of Casey Bias plated Alex Astorga.  It appeared as if Butler had struck out the batter on a 2-2 pitch, but Alexis Hongisto hit a full count offering up the middle scoring Tononi to make it 2-0.

WSU knotted the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the second.  Freshman shortstop Hannah McClounie (Essex, Ont. / St. Anne Catholic) reached on a Tononi fielding error, and scored on a one-out double to right field by senior catcher Ali Lince (St. Clair Shores, Mich. / Lakeview).  Lince just missed the opposite field home run by a couple of feet.  Wayne State loaded the bases on a walk to Butler and junior center fielder Allie Buchanan (Cambridge, Ont. / Galt C.I.) reaching on an error.  Senior third baseman Jade McGarr (Guelph, Ont. / St. James Catholic) was plunked on an 0-1 pitch plating pinch-runner Jamie MacNeil (Brampton, Ont. / St. Thomas Aquinas S.S.).

The Warriors took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the third as sophomore second baseman Kylee Barrett (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) doubled down the right field line, and scored as Lince reached on a throwing error by Hongisto.

Wayne State made it 4-2 in the fifth as senior designated player Shelby Spano (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Stevenson) bounced a single through the left side.  McClounie followed with a bunt single, and Barrett advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Sophomore Hailey Lazarek (Allen Park, Mich.), who had run for Spano, beat throw home on grounder to short off the bat of Lince.

WSU's final three runs came on one swing of the bat as McClounie blasted a three-run shot over the left field fence with two outs in the bottom of the sixth.  McGarr had a bunt single and Spano had a single up the middle, prior to McClounie's third homer of the season.

IN THE CIRCLE

Butler went the distance to improve to 19-2.  She allowed two earned runs on four hits with nine strikeouts to two walks.  After throwing 53 pitches in the first two frames, Butler only threw 64 pitches over the final five innings.

Megan Vanderwal (5-1) started for Ferris State and pitched the first three innings.  She allowed three unearned runs on three hits with three strikeouts and one walk.  Megan Jean hurled the final three innings allowing four earned runs on six hits with no strikeouts or walks.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

McGarr, Spano and McClounie combined for six of WSU's nine hits, with McClounie garnering three RBI.

LEADING THE OPPOSITION

Four different players each had a single.

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GAME TWO RECAP

Wayne State raced out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first as sophomore outfielder Kristen Lucas (Newmarket, Ont. / Mulock S.S.) smacked a two-out, two-run home run just inside the right field foul pole after a single by McGarr.

FSU tied the game in the bottom of the second on a two-out, two-run double by Emily Smith.  Sarah Johnson had a two-out double and moved to third on a "nubber" single by Alyssa Smith.

The Warriors regained the lead in the top of the third as Buchanan and McGarr had back-to-back one-out singles, then Spano delivered an RBI single up the middle with two outs.  It would turn out to be Spano's seventh game-winning RBI of the campaign.

WSU added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh as pinch-hitter Emily Cava (Brampton, Ont. / Cardinal Leger S.S.) began the frame with a single to right.  Butler followed with a single up the middle, before Buchanan reached on a muffed throw to the second baseman on a sacrifice bunt.  McGarr walked on four pitches to force in freshman Megan Guitar (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington), who had re-entered for Cava.  Lucas followed with an RBI fielder's choice.

IN THE CIRCLE

Senior Mackenzie Boehler (Saginaw, Mich. / Swan Valley) improved to 10-2 on the year.  She struck out five and walked one while allowing two earned runs on seven hits.

Stacy Thompson (7-5) went the distance in the circle for Ferris State.  She surrendered five earned runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts to one walk.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Butler and McGarr each had two hits as eight different players recorded hits for Wayne State.  Lucas had a team-high three RBI.

LEADING THE OPPOSITION

Emily Smith, Alyssa Smith and Johnson each had two hits for the Bulldogs, with Johnson and Emily Smith each recording a double.

UP NEXT

Wayne State will play a make-up doubleheader on Thursday (April 14th) at Northwood.  First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.