DETROIT -- The 11th-ranked Wayne State University softball team (37-6 overall, 16-2 GLIAC) ended its first two-game losing streak in nearly 13 months with a 10-0 five-inning victory in the nightcap after being edged 2-1 in Wednesday's opener agaainst visiting Saginaw Valley State University (27-13 overall, 11-9 GLIAC).

GAME ONE RECAP

WSU junior hurler Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont. / Centennial C.V.I.) and Cardinal junior Samantha Willman locked up in an old-fashioned pitchers duel in game one.

The Warriors scored in the bottom of the first as junior centerfielder Allie Buchanan (Cambridge, Ont. / Galt C.I.) earned a one-out walk on a 3-2 offering.  After a fly out, sophomore outfielder Kristen Lucas (Newmarket, Ont. / Mulock S.S.) doubled down the left field line advancing Buchanan to third.  On the first pitch, senior designated player Shelby Spano (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Stevenson) short blooper down the first base line went off of Willman's outstretched glove into foul territory plating Buchanan.

SVSU's Evy Lobdell led off the top of the second with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch.  Following a strikeout, Shelby Weeks singled to knot the game at 1-1.  Sarah Vrabel then singled to move Weeks to second, where she scored on a single by Aubree Mouthaan.

Willman retired nine of the next 11 Wayne State hitters until Butler led off the fifth with a single.  Buchanan followed with a bunt single, before a double play preceded a walk and a fielder's choice to end that threat.

Butler had a one-out single in the seventh and Buchanan followed with a single through the left side.  A pop out and a fly out ended the contest.

IN THE CIRCLE

Butler (22-3) allowed two earned runs on seven hits with nine strikeouts to one walk.

Willman improved to 6-3 by limiting the Warriors to one run (earned) on six hits.  She struck out two and walked three.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Butler and Buchanan each had two hits with Spano earning the lone RBI.

LEADING THE OPPOSITION

Seven different players had a hit for SVSU with Bethaney Murphey having a double.

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GAME TWO RECAP

Wayne State snapped a scoreless draw with a seven-run third inning in the nightcap.

Sophomore catcher Shelby Fridline (Almont, Mich. / SC4) led off the frame with a four-pitch walk.  Butler singled before Buchanan laid down a sacrifice bunt.  SVSU's third baseman threw wild to first on Buchanan's sacrifice, allowing both Fridline and Butler to score.  Senior third baseman Jade McGarr (Guelph, Ont. / St. James Catholic) had a sacrifice bunt to advance Buchanan to third.  Lucas followed with an RBI single down the left field line to make it 3-0 prompting a pitching change.

Vrabel entered the circle for SVSU starter Sarah Appold (7-6) with Spano earning a nine-pitch walk.  A passed ball advanced both Lucas and pinch-runner Jamie MacNeil (Brampton, Ont. / St. Thomas Aquinas S.S.).  Freshman shortstop Hannah McClounie (Essex, Ont. / St. Anne Catholic) walked to load the bases before sophomore second baseman Kylee Barrett (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) drilled a 1-1 pitch over the right field fence for her first collegiate grand slam.

WSU added three more run in the fourth off Willman, who had entered following Barrett's blast.  Butler had a leadoff infield single to start the fourth.  Buchanan moved her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.  With two outs, Butler went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Lucas.  Spano laced Willman's next offering into left center plating Lucas.  McClounie greeted reliever Annie Hansen with an RBI single that plated pinch-runner Hailey Lazarek (Allen Park, Mich.).

IN THE CIRCLE

Senior Mackenzie Boehler (Saginaw, Mich. / Swan Valley) improved to 13-3 by tossing her fourth shutout of the season.  She held the Cardinals to just two hits, while recording six strikeouts to one walk.

Appold allowed four runs (three earned) in 2 1/3 innings on four hits.  She struck out two and walked one before Vrabel surrendered three earned runs on two walks and a hit without retiring a batter.  Willman pitched 1 1/3 innings allowing three earned runs on three hits with one strikeout, while Hansen recorded the final four outs allowing one hit with one strikeout.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Butler went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, while Lucas was 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored.  Barrett equaled a career-high with four RBI.

LEADING THE OPPOSITION

Jessica Wood had a double for SVSU, while Lobdell added a single.

UP NEXT

Wayne State will play host to Lake Erie College for a GLIAC twinbill on Friday.  First pitch of game one is slated for 3:30 p.m.