CLERMONT, Fla. -- The 22nd-ranked Wayne State University softball team (12-5 overall) began its spring break trip with mixed results on Saturday.  The Warriors suffered their second extra-inning setback of the campaign in a 5-4 loss to Merrimack (6-1 overall) in eight innings.  WSU rebounded for an 11-3 triumph over #28-LIU Post (6-4 overall) in the nightcap.

GAME ONE RECAP

Wayne State scored twice in the top of the first on back-to-back one-out singles by Allie Buchanan (Cambridge, Ont.) and Kristen Lucas (Newmarket, Ont.).  Brookie Turkalj (St. Jacobs, Ont.) doubled in Buchanan with Lucas scoring on an infield hit by Kylee Barrett (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington).  The Merrimack Warriors scored in the bottom of the first on a one-out walk and a triple by Alyssa Williamson.

Merrimack tied the game at 2-2 in the third on a bases loaded walk to Caitlin McBride.

WSU took a 4-2 lead in the top of the seventh on an infield single by Megan Guitar (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington), an RBI double by Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont.) and a single by Lucas.

Merrimack answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame on a walk, two singles and a groundout.

Wayne State was unable to score using the international tiebreaker in the top of the eighth, while Merrimack's McBride doubled in the placed runner to end the contest.

IN THE CIRCLE

Guitar started and allowed two earned runs on five hits in four innings of work.  She had one strikeout to three walks.  Butler pitched the final three-plus innings allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits with four strikeouts to one walk.

Haley Currie (3-0) surrendered four earned runs on 11 hits in eight innings to earn the win.  She had four strikeouts and zero walks.

LEADING WAYNE STATE

Lucas went 3-for-4 with an RBI, while both Butler and Turkalj had two hits apiece.

LEADING MERRIMACK

Williamson went 3-for-3 with two RBI, while McBride had two hits and the game-winning RBI.

GAME TWO RECAP

The Pioneers took an early 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the bottom of the first.

The Warriors grabbed a 2-1 advantage in the top of the second as Turkalj had a leadoff single, Barrett followed with a bunt single before a sacrifice bunt advanced both runners.  Ashley Messina (Troy, Mich.) followed with a two-run single.

WSU extended its lead in the third as Butler had a leadoff single and Buchanan followed with a bunt base hit.  After a ground out, Butler scored on a passed ball with Buchanan scoring on an infield hit.

Wayne State sealed the win with seven runs in the top of the seventh.  Barrett had a two-run double after Lucas and Turkalj had back-to-back singles to start the inning.  Messina had an RBI single, and Hannah McClounie (Essex, Mich.) chased the starting pitcher with a triple to right center.  Butler and Buchanan each had RBI singles, while Kelsey Ramus (Macomb, MIch. / Dakota) drove in the final run as she was plunked with the bases loaded.

LIU Post tallied a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh.

IN THE CIRCLE

Haley Hurd (Atwater, Ohio / Waterloo) notched her second win of the season in three decisions by limiting the Pioneers to three unearned runs on two hits.  She struck out three and did not walk a batter in seven innings.

Katie Humhej suffered the loss by allowing nine runs (eight earned) on 15 hits in 6 1/3 innings.  Humhej struck out one and walked one.  Ashley Martin recorded two outs, while surrendering two earned runs on two hits.  Martin had one strikeout.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Turkalj went 4-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.  Butler had three hits as did Barrett.  Messina drove in three on her two hits.

LEADING THE PIONEERS

Julia Seader had a hit, an RBI and a run scored, while Kayla McCoy had a hit and an RBI.

UP NEXT

Wayne State will play Concordia-St. Paul at 8 am on Sunday, followed by a 10:30 am contest vs. Augustana (S.D.).