Clearwater, Fla. – The 10th-ranked Wayne State University softball team (2-2 overall) rebounded from an 8-0 loss to Florida Tech (5-2 overall) in the morning, to defeat Rollins College (3-4 overall) 13-1 in the afternoon on day 2 of the NFCA Leadoff Classic.

GAME ONE RECAP

The Panthers grabbed an early lead with three runs in the bottom of the first on two hits, a WSU error and two walks.

After the Warriors notched their lone hit of the contest in the top of the fourth – a one-out infield single by senior Allie Buchanan (Cambridge, Ont.), Florida Tech tallied four runs in the bottom of the frame on four hits, a WSU miscue and a walk.

FIT ended the contest with a one-out RBI single in the bottom of the fifth.

IN THE CIRCLE

Haley Hurd (Atwater, Ohio / Waterloo) suffered the loss after allowing eight runs (six earned) on eight hits in 4.1 innings.  She struck out six and walked three.

Rachel Pence notched the victory limiting WSU to one hit as she retired 15 of the 16 batters she faced.  Pence struck out three and did not walk a batter.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Buchanan had WSU's lone hit, and also recorded a stolen base.

LEADING THE PANTHERS

Audrey Gangloff went 2-for-3.

GAME TWO RECAP

Wayne State scored seven times in the bottom of the first and never looked back in defeating Rollins 13-1 in five innings.

Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont.) led off with a double and scored when Kristen Lucas (Newmarket, Ont.) reached on a sacrifice bunt throwing error.  Brooke Turkalj (St. Jacobs, Ont.) followed with two-run double.  After a pitching change, Kylee Barrett (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) had a bunt base hit, then stole second.  Cammie McCracken (Bolivar, N.Y. / Portville Central) had a single to plate Turkalj, while Barrett crossed the plate as Megan Guitar (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) reached on a fielding error.  A sacrifice fly by Hannah McClounie (Essex, Ont.) scored a run, and Butler delivered an RBI single.

Wayne State tacked on six more runs in the bottom of the fourth as Emma Adams (Rockwood, Ont.) started the frame with a double.  A bunt single by Butler advanced pinch-runner Kelsey Ramus (Macomb, Mich. / Dakota) to third.  After Butler stole second, Buchanan had an RBI single.  Butler scored on a sacrifice fly by Lucas.  Barrett and Guitar both had RBI doubles with the last two runs scoring on a fielding error by Rollins.

The Tars lone run came in the top of the fifth on two singles and back-to-back fielder's choices.

IN THE CIRCLE

After allowing a leadoff walk to start the game, Butler (1-1) retired eight straight until a hit by pitch.  She finished the contest allowing one earned run on three hits in five innings of work.  Butler struck out six and walked one.

Erin Fortney did not retire any of the four batters she faced to start the game with three of them scoring earned runs.  Sarah Piening pitched four innings and allowed nine runs (four earned) on eight hits.  Piening struck out three and walked one.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Butler went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, while Barrett had two hits including one of WSU's five doubles.

LEADING THE TARS

Grace Street had a single and scored the lone RC run.

Up Next

Wayne State will conclude its play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic with a 9 a.m. contest on Sunday morning vs. Eckerd College.