CLEARWATER, Fla. – The 10th-ranked Wayne State University softball squad (1-1 overall) began its 2017 campaign on the opening day of the NFCA Leadoff Classic by splitting its two games. The Warriors won their season opener 8-0 in five innings over Catawba College (0-5) before dropping a 2-0 decision to 13th-ranked Valdosta State (4-1).
GAME ONE RECAP
WSU took an early 1-0 lead on the Indians in the top of the first.
Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont.) reached on an error and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by
Allie Buchanan (Cambridge, Ont.). Butler advanced to third after back-to-back walks to
Kristen Lucas (Newmarket, Ont.) and
Brooke Turkalj (St. Jacobs, Ont.). Butler then scored on a sacrifice fly by
Kylee Barrett (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington).
CC had a runner at third with one out in the first and couldn't score, then stranded a leadoff double in the fourth.
Wayne State put the game away with seven runs on seven hits in the top of the fifth. After the first two Warriors were retired, Buchanan singled and Lucas reached on an error. Buchanan scored on an infield single by Turkalj. Barrett's RBI single made it 3-0.
Emma Adams (Rockwood, Ont.) greeted the relief pitcher with an RBI single to left and
Megan Guitar (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) followed with a two-run single. After a double by
Hannah McClounie (Essex, Ont.),
Hailey Lazarek (Allen Park, Mich.) laced a two-run single to left center.
IN THE CIRCLE
Guitar (1-0) notched her first collegiate victory and first solo shutout (shared one shutout in 2016) by limiting Catawba to no runs on three hits with three strikeouts to three walks in five innings.
Brooke Walser (0-2) suffered the loss despite allowing just three hits in 4.2 innings. All five runs she allowed were unearned. Walser struck out two and walked four. Kaylee Cook allowed four hits in the four batters she faced, while Caroline Turner retired the lone batter she faced.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Seven different Wayne State players had hits in the contest, with McClounie's double being the lone extra-base hit. Turkalj went 1-for-1 with two walks in her collegiate debut.
LEADING CATAWBA
Two of CC's three hits were doubles – by Caroline Turner and Katherine Shumaker.
GAME TWO RECAP
WSU allowed two unearned runs in the top of the fourth and was out-hit 5-3 by the Blazers of Valdosta State.
HOW IT HAPPENED
VSU had a runner at third with no outs in the second but a pair of comebackers to the circle were sandwiched around a Butler strikeout.
The Blazers had a leadoff single in the fourth followed by a fielding miscue by WSU. With one out, a passed ball plated the game's first run, while a single by Haley Fowler scored another unearned run.
The second inning was the lone frame that the Warriors left two runners on base as Turkalj had a leadoff single and Guitar reached on a two-out error.
IN THE CIRCLE
Butler (0-1) allowed five hits and two unearned runs with six strikeouts to one walk.
Avery Lamb tossed a three-hit shutout for Valdosta State. She struck out four and did not walk a batter.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Turkalj had two of WSU's three hits.
LEADING VALDOSTA STATE
Five different Blazers had a hit apiece with Chelsea Canara and Brandy Morgan each recording doubles.
UP NEXT
Wayne State will face Florida Tech at 10 a.m. on Saturday followed by a 3 p.m. contest against Rollins College. Both games will be played at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex.
