DETROIT -- For the second day in a row, the 18th-ranked Wayne State University softball squad (23-7 overall, 2-2 GLIAC) split a home conference doubleheader.  The Warriors won game one, 1-0, behind a four-hit shutout by Lyndsay Butler, but fell 4-0 in the nightcap to Grand Valley State University (13-15 overall, 3-5 GLIAC).

GAME ONE RECAP

With one out in the bottom of the first, Allie Buchanan (Cambridge, Ont.) was hit by a pitch.  Just prior to a single to left by Kristen Lucas (Newmarket, Ont.), Buchanan stole her 10th base of the year and went to third on the single.  Brooke Turkalj hit a 1-1 pitch in the hole with second baseman Jenna Lenza diving to try and knock down the ball, she slowed it but not enough to get Turkalj at first with Buchanan scoring on the infield single.

Butler retired the first seven Lakers before a Jessica Ramos batted ball was ruled to have hit the WSU third baseman's glove in fair territory which ultimately resulted in a double for Ramos.  Butler buckled down and set down the next nine GVSU batters before Tanner Kiessel reached on a blooper just over the pitchers mound.  After a single by Janae Langs, Butler was able to get a strikeout and ground out to end the sixth.

Shannon Flaherty had a one-out single in the top of the seventh, but a fielder's choice and strikeout ended the contest.

IN THE CIRCLE

Butler (13-5), who lost 1-0 in nine innings on Saturday, earned the 1-0 triumph over Grand Valley State.  She struck out four and did not walk a batter, while scattering four hits.

Allison Lipovsky (5-3) was the tough luck loser.  Ten of the 18 outs she earned were via the strikeout and the only hit she allowed after the first inning was a leadoff double to Butler in the bottom of the sixth, which extended Butler's hitting streak to 26 games.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Butler, Lucas and Turkalj each had one hit.

LEADING THE LAKERS

Langs, Flaherty, Ramos and Kiessel each had base hits for GVSU.

GAME TWO RECAP

After a scoreless first two innings, Wayne State had back-to-back runners in the top of the third on a single by Butler and a walk to Buchanan.  However, Lucas fly to right was gathered in by Kiessel just before the foul line.

In the bottom of the frame, Kelsey Dominguez had a leadoff single in the hole at short, and Kiessel followed with a double down the left field line.  Langs hit a comebacker to the mound and after looking the runner back to third, Butler threw to Turkalj who's swiped tag was ruled to have missed the batter.  After back-to-back force outs at home plate, which would have ended the inning, Ellie Balbach singled to left scoring one run with another two runners scoring as the ball scooted past the Warrior outfielder.

Ramos greeted reliever Megan Guitar (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) with a single up the middle in the bottom of the fourth.  After two outs were recorded, a wild pitch and a walk preceded an RBI single by Langs to make it 4-0.

IN THE CIRCLE

Butler (13-6) hurled the first three innings allowing three runs (one earned) on three hits with one walk.  Guitar tossed the final three innings surrendering one earned run on four hits with one strikeout and one walk.

Balbach (3-7) pitched a two-hit shutout with six strikeouts to one walk.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Butler and Lucas each had singles, while Buchanan earned a walk.

LEADING THE LAKERS

Balbach went 2-for-2 and drove in the first run of the game besides earning the victory in the circle.

UP NEXT

Wayne State will play four road GLIAC doubleheaders this week starting with make-up twinbills at Findlay on Wednesday and Tiffin on Thursday.  WSU will conclude the week with league doubleheaders at Saginaw Valley State on Saturday (noon start) and Northwood on Sunday.