DETROIT -- The 11th-ranked Wayne State University softball team (42-7 overall, 21-3 GLIAC) claimed the 2016 GLIAC Regular-Season title with a 10-2 victory over visiting Ohio Dominican University (25-27 overall, 12-14 GLIAC) in Sunday's nightcap after the Panthers won the opener 4-0.
GAME ONE RECAP
The Warriors were limited to just four singles in the contest, while ODU scored once in the first on a leadoff single by Taylor Kline, and ground out and an RBI single by Kelsey Albanese.
Ohio Dominican completed the scoring with a three-run third. Julia Suyak and Kline each singled before Montana Fishel's sacrifice bunt preceded a two-run double by Albanese. Kelly Wallace drove in the other run with a single.
IN THE CIRCLE
Junior
Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont. / Centennial C.V.I.) started for WSU and allowed four earned runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings. She struck out three and did not walk a batter. Freshman
Megan Guitar (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) hurled the final 4.1 innings of scoreless ball. She allowed three hits with two strikeouts and two walks.
Abby Lamping (12-8) went the distance for the Panthers. She limited WSU to four hits and one walk, while striking out three.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Butler had two hits, while junior outfielder
Allie Buchanan (Cambridge, Ont. / Galt C.I.) and sophomore outfielder
Kristen Lucas (Newmarket, Ont. / Mulock S.S.) each had one hit.
LEADING THE OPPOSITION
Albanese went 3-for-3 with a run scored and three RBI, while Kline was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
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GAME TWO RECAP
The second game was almost the exact opposite of the opener. Butler led off the contest with a four-pitch walk and advanced to second on Buchanan's sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Lucas laced a shot through the left side scoring Butler.
WSU added to its lead in the second as senior catcher
Ali Lince (St. Clair Shores, Mich. / Lakeview) had a leadoff single down the right field line. After a fielder's choice, freshman shortstop
Hannah McClounie (Essex, Ont. / St. Anne Catholic) had an infield single prior to a fielder's choice leaving runners on the corners with two outs. Butler's RBI single made it 2-0.
After the first two Warrior hitters were retired in the top of the third, junior designated player
Emily Cava (Brampton, Ont. / Cardinal Leger S.S.) had a single up the middle and scored on an RBI double to right center by Lince, which knocked Lamping out of the game.
In the fourth, McClounie had a leadoff single, and senior first baseman
Gabby Williams (South Lyon, Mich.) followed with a bunt single. After a strikeout, Buchanan had a bunt single to load the bases. Senior third baseman
Jade McGarr (Guelph, Ont. / St. James Catholic) delivered a two-run single to left center before Buchanan scored on a wild pitch. McGarr then scored on a sacrifice fly by Lucas to make it 7-0.
Suyak had a bases loaded two-run single in the bottom of the fourth, but Wayne State answered with three in the top of the fifth.
Sophomore second baseman
Kylee Barrett (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) had a leadoff single and McClounie greeted relief pitcher Haley Earl with a bunt single. After a fielder's choice, Butler laced an RBI single through the right side before Buchanan loaded the bases with a bunt single prompting ODU's third pitching change of the contest. McGarr earned an RBI with a bases loaded walk off Bailey Miller before Lucas garnered another sacrifice fly.
Following a leadoff single in the bottom of the fifth by Kline, who later stole second, the final three ODU batters were retired to end the contest.
IN THE CIRCLE
Senior
Mackenzie Boehler (Saginaw, Mich. / Swan Valley) improved to 15-3 by limiting the Panthers to two earned runs on six hits. She struck out four and walked one.
Lamping (12-9) took the second game loss after surrendering three earned runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings with one walk and zero strikeouts. Casey Murdoch went 1.1 innings allowing five earned runs on five hits with two strikeouts and zero walks. Earl retired one of the four batters she faced and allowed two earned runs on three hits. Miller walked one of the three batters she faced.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
McClounie went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, while Butler went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Buchanan and Lince each had two hits as the Warriors had 14 hits in the contest. Both McGarr and Lucas had three RBI in the game.
LEADING THE OPPOSITION
Suyak went 2-for-2 with two RBI.
UP NEXT
Wayne State will be the No. 1 seed for the GLIAC Tournament which begins this Friday at Marathon Diamonds in Findlay, Ohio.
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