DETROIT -- The 18th-ranked Wayne State University softball team (22-6 overall, 1-1 GLIAC) began league play with  a split against Ferris State (10-14 overall, 3-3 GLIAC) Saturday afternoon in the first games played on the recently re-named Gary L Bryce Field on the WSU campus.  The Bulldogs won the opener 1-0 in nine innings, while the Warriors took game two 4-1.  It was WSU's first games in 13 days since returning from its spring break trip.  The game one setback ended a 10-game winning streak for the Warriors.

GAME ONE RECAP

In an old-fashioned pitchers duel between FSU's Sam Bates (6-2) and WSU's Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont.), it took extra innings before either team was able to score.

After getting two-out base runners in both the first and the third, the Bulldogs' Lexi Hongisto had a one-out double in the fourth but was erased on a fielder's choice.

Butler retired 10 in a row until a two-out single in the top of the seventh by Ferris' Bailey Darwin.

Meanwhile, the Warriors had back-to-back two out singles in the second by Ashley Messina (Troy, Mich.) and Emma Adams (Rockwood, Ont.), but fly out ended the frame.

Butler had a one-out single in the third but was doubled off on a line drive.

Kylee Barrett (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) and Messina had back-to-back two-out hits in the fourth, but a ground out ended that threat.

Hannah McClounie (Essex, Ont.) had a leadoff bunt single in the fifth and was sacrificed to second by Megan Guitar (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington).  However the next two batters were retired.

In the sixth, Brooke Turkalj (St. Jacobs, Ont.) had a one-out single and Barrett reached on an error.  Messina was ruled out an infield fly that was dropped by the Bulldog second baseman leaving runners at second and third with two outs.  

In the top of the ninth, Hongisto had a sharp two-out single to right, and Bates followed with a run-scoring double to left center.

WSU left nine runners on base and out-hit the Bulldogs 7-5.

IN THE CIRCLE

Butler (12-5) struck out six and walked one, while allowing one earned run on five hits.

Bates struck out three and did not walk a batter, while scattering nine hits and leaving nine runners stranded.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Messina was the lone WSU batter with a multiple-hit affair.

LEADING THE BULLDOGS

Hongisto had two of FSU's five hits.

GAME TWO RECAP

The nightcap began eerily similar for Wayne State as the Warriors left a runner on base in each of the first two innings.

In the top of the third, Butler had a one-out single and Kristen Lucas (Newmarket, Ont.) reached on an error (for a team-leading 11th time) with Butler scampering to third.  Turkalj was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Barrett followed by ripping a 1-1 offering down the left field line to score all three runners.

WSU added to its lead in the top of the seventh with three consecutive one-hit singles by Guitar, Butler and Allie Buchanan (Cambridge, Ont.).

Bulldog Sarah Meredith had a leadoff pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the seventh to spoil Guitar's shutout bid.

IN THE CIRCLE

Guitar improved to 8-0 by limiting FSU to one earned run on six hits.  She struck out eight and walked three.

Abby Highway (3-8) went the distance for the Bulldogs surrendering four runs (one earned) on seven hits.  She struck out five and walked one.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Butler and Buchanan each had two hits, with Barrett driving in the first three runs of the contest.  Butler extended her hitting streak to 25 games with one hit in the opener and two hits in the nightcap.  After beginning the year 0-for-9, Butler has since batted .543 (50-for-92) with 17 multiple-hit affairs, plus has reached base on an error another four times.

LEADING THE BULLDOGS

Sarah Johnson had three of FSU's six hits, along with Meredith's pinch-hit four-bagger.

UP NEXT

Wayne State will conclude its weekend home stand with a conference twinbill against Grand Valley State on Sunday.  First pitch of game 1 is slated for noon.