HILLSDALE, Mich. -- The 13th-ranked Wayne State University softball squad (36-5 overall, 15-1 GLIAC) had its 17-game winning streak snapped with a 5-0 loss in the nightcap, after recording a 6-2 triumph in the opener Sunday afternoon at Hillsdale College (21-7 overall, 16-4 GLIAC). The 17 consecutive victories was two shy of the WSU single-season record of 19 set by the 2014 squad. The Charger setback in game one ended their nine-game winning streak.
GAME ONE RECAP
The Warriors scored twice in the top of the first as
Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont. / Centennial C.V.I.) worked a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a bunt single by
Allie Buchanan (Cambridge, Ont. / Galt C.I.). Following a sacrifice bunt by
Jade McGarr (Guelph, Ont. / St. James Catholic) and a ground out,
Shelby Spano (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Stevenson) laced a two-run single. It would turn out to be Spano's team-leading ninth game-winning RBI.
After leaving the bases loaded in the second, WSU added a single run in the third. McGarr earned a leadoff walk and was sacrificed to second by
Kristen Lucas (Newmarket, Ont. / Mulock S.S.).
Hannah McClounie (Essex, Ont. / St. Anne Catholic) plated McGarr with a two-out double to left center.
The Chargers tallied an unearned run on the fifth with a pair of singles sandwiched around a WSU miscue, followed by a sacrifice fly.
Wayne State tacked on three insurance runs in the top of the sixth. McClounie had a leadoff walk and
Kylee Barrett (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) advanced her to second with a sacrifice bunt. After a ground out,
Shannon Hilton (Gilford, Ont. / Bradford) delivered an RBI single and Butler followed with a double. Buchanan's double to center plated both Hilton and Butler.
Hillsdale scored another unearned run in the seventh on a single, a throwing error and a ground out.
IN THE CIRCLE
Butler (22-2) notched her 71st career victory, one shy of the WSU career record held by Casey Hanes (2009-10) and Jenni Smith (1990-93). She allowed five singles and two unearned runs with one strikeout and one walk.
Sarah Grunert saw her record fall to 11-3. She surrendered six earned runs on 12 hits, including four doubles. Grunert struck out one and walked three.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Hilton went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while Buchanan went 3-for-4 with two RBI. Butler contributed two hits and walk, and scored twice.
LEADING THE OPPOSITION
Ainsley Ellison had two of Hillsdale's five hits.
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GAME TWO RECAP
The host Chargers snapped a scoreless draw in the top of the third as Bekah Kastning smacked a one-out home run to right field.
Hillsdale scored twice in the fourth on three straight one-out doubles off Warrior starter
Mackenzie Boehler (Saginaw, Mich. / Swan Valley), prompting a pitching change to
Haley Hurd (Atwater, Ohio / Waterloo). Hurd retired both batters she faced in the fourth, but walked the first three hitters in the fifth necessitating a change back to Boehler. Haley Lawrence greeted Boehler with a two-run single.
Megan Guitar (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) hurled the final two innings retiring all six Hillsdale batters she faced.
Wayne State did not get a runner to third until there were two outs in the bottom of the seventh.
IN THE CIRCLE
Boehler (11-3) allowed three earned runs on nine hits in 4.1 innings. She struck out two and did not walk a batter. Hurd pitched 2/3 of an innning and surrendered two earned runs on three walks.
Sarah Klopfer improved to 10-4. She limited the Warriors to three hits and no walks, while recording one strikeout.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
McGarr, Lucas and Barrett accounted for WSU's three singles.
LEADING THE OPPOSITION
Julia Kosco and Katie Kish each went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
UP NEXT
Wayne State will play at least six home games in the final week of the regular season. The Warriors will entertain Saginaw Valley State on Wednesday (3:30 p.m. doubleheader), Lake Erie on Friday (3:30 p.m. doubleheader) and Ashland on Saturday (1 p.m. doubleheader). The GLIAC rain date is on Sunday.
