TIFFIN, Ohio -- The Wayne State University softball team (28-10 overall, 7-5 GLIAC) played two entirely different games at Tiffin University (15-20 overall, 2-8 GLIAC) on Tuesday.  The Dragons won the opener 3-2 in 11 innings as the Warriors left 18 runners on base.  WSU rebounded in the nightcap for a 10-2 triumph in five innings.  The twinbill was played at Paradiso Fields and marked games seven and eight of a 12-game road trip for the Warriors.

Wayne State graduate student Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont.) reached two significant milestones in game one.  With her single leading off the game, she became WSU's all-time hits leader breaking a tie with Hall of Famer Patty Grudzinski at 309.  Butler then reached the 1,000th career strikeout mark with her punch out to end the fourth.  In game two, she smacked her second career grand slam (first came on March 15, 2015 vs. Minnesota-Duluth).

GAME ONE RECAP

WSU struggled with runners on base going 5-for-30 in the contest, including an 0-for-6 mark with the bases loaded.

Wayne State had a runner at second with one out in each of the first two frames but were unable to get an run-scoring hit.

The Warriors finally broke through in the top of the fifth as Butler drew a one-out walk and moved to second on an infield single by Allie Buchanan (Cambridge, Ont.).  Brooke Turkalj (St. Jacobs, Ont.) advanced all the way to second on an error by the Dragons with Butler able to score the game's first run.

In the sixth, WSU had back-to-back one-out singles by Emma Adams (Rockwood, Ont.) and Shelby Fridline (Almont, Mich.) to put pinch-runner Alea Kainz (Wyandotte, Mich. / Roosevelt) into scoring position.  Unfortunately a line out and a foul out ended the threat.

Tiffin was able to knot the game at one in the bottom of the seventh on an unearned run following a one-out single, a ground out and a Warrior miscue.

Each team had a hit in the eighth inning but couldn't break the deadlock.  Neither team scored in the 10th despite using the international tie-breaker rule.

WSU had a great chance in the 10th as a ground out moved the placed runner to third.  After a walk to Kylee Barrett (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) and an intentional walk to Butler, a lineout double play ended the frame.

In the 11th, Wayne State garnered one run as a sacrifice bunt by Turkalj advanced the placed runner (Buchanan) to third.  Kristen Lucas (Newmarket, Ont.) then followed with an RBI single to left.

In the bottom of the 11th, the placed runner scored on a one-out single with the batter taking second on the throw.  The next batter grounded out, but a throw to third to get the runner went awry allowing the winning run to score.

IN THE CIRCLE

Butler (15-8) was the tough-luck loser as she limited Tiffin to six hits and three unearned runs in 10.2 innings.  Butler struck out 10 and did not walk a batter.

Tiffany Snell (7-7) scattered 12 Warriors hits in allowing two unearned runs in 11 innings of work.  She struck out three and walked four.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Butler went 3-for-4 with two walks, while Lucas and Megan Guitar (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) each had two hits.

LEADING THE DRAGONS

Jamie Sevenish had three of Tiffin's six hits, while Sierra Besser-Paul had two singles.

GAME TWO RECAP

After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first, Wayne State was able to take the lead for good in the bottom of the second as Butler clobbered her second career grand slam with two outs.  Butler's four-bagger came after singles by Ashley Messina (Troy, Mich.) and Hannah McClounie (Essex, Ont.) and a hit by pitch for Hailey Lazarek (Allen Park, Mich.).

The Warriors added a run in the third and left the bases loaded.  Lucas had a leadoff walk, went to second on a single by Barrett, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Messina.  Guitar's sacrifice fly plated Lucas with WSU's fifth run.

Wayne State tacked on two additional runs in the fourth as Turkalj had a one-out single, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on an error following an infield single by Lucas.  Barrett's base hit put runners on the corner, with Lucas scoring on Guitar's single.

Tiffin scored an unearned run in the top of the fifth and the Warriors ended the game with a three-run bottom of the fifth.  Butler had a leadoff single and Turkalj had a one-out infield single.  Lucas singled to center to load the bases, with Barrett earning an RBI with a bases loaded walk.  With two outs, Guitar laced a two-run double to left.

IN THE CIRCLE

Guitar (11-1) held Tiffin to four hits and two runs (one earned) in five innings to earn the victory.  She struck out five and walked four.

Kimmy Reynolds (6-8) started for the Dragons and yielded five earned runs on five hits in two innings.  She had one strikeout and one walk.  April Bennett surrendered two earned runs on four hits in 1.1 innings with two walks, while Savannah Chalfant allowed three earned runs on five hits in 1.1 innings with one strikeout to two walks.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Butler went 3-for-4 with four RBI, while Turkalj, Lucas, Barrett and Guitar each had two hits as part of WSU's 14-hit attack.

LEADING THE DRAGONS

Michelle Poe went 2-for-2 with two RBI.

UP NEXT

Wayne State will conclude its 12-game road swing with GLIAC doubleheaders at Walsh on Friday (3 p.m.) and Lake Erie on Saturday (1 p.m.).