DETROIT -- The 24th-ranked Wayne State University softball team (33-11 overall, 12-6 GLIAC) returned home Saturday following a 12-game road trip and split a conference doubleheader against visiting Ohio Dominican University (25-19 overall, 12-6 GLIAC).  The Warriors won the opener 3-0 behind a two-hit shutout from Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont.).  The Panthers claimed the nightcap 3-1.  WSU, ODU and Hillsdale are all tied at 12-6 in league play with the Panthers traveling to Hillsdale on Sunday, while the Chargers visit Motown on Friday (April 28th) to conclude the regular season.  Wayne State, Hillsdale and Ohio Dominican are tied with Grand Valley State (11-5 GLIAC) atop the GLIAC standings with GVSU holding a percentage points advantage (.688 to .667) over the other three schools.

GAME ONE RECAP

Wayne State scored twice in the bottom of the second Kristen Lucas (Newmarket, Ont.) laced a 1-2 offering up the middle leading off the frame.  Megan Guitar (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) doubled in Lucas by smashing an 0-1 pitch into right center.  After a sacrifice bunt by Kylee Barrett (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington), Hannah McClounie (Essex, Ont.) singled into center scoring Guitar.

The Warriors increased their advantage in the third as Butler singled to left for her second hit of the game.  A sacrifice bunt by Allie Buchanan (Cambridge, Ont.) moved Butler into scoring position.  Brooke Turkalj (St. Jacobs, Ont.) followed with a double down the left field line to make it 3-0.

ODU's Taylor Farmer had a two-out double in the third before Butler retired nine in a row before a two-out single under McClounie's glove by speedster Taylor Kline.

IN THE CIRCLE

Butler (18-8) only faced 23 batters as a second inning leadoff walk preceded a pop up double play.  She struck out 11 and walked one, while allowing just the two hits.

Abby Lamping (10-10) tossed all six innings for the Panthers.  She allowed three earned runs on eight hits with one strikeout and zero walks.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Butler went 3-for-3 with a run scored, while McClounie had two hits and an RBI.

LEADING THE PANTHERS

Farmer doubled and Kline singled for ODU.

GAME TWO RECAP

WSU had its six-game winning streak come to an end despite taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

Butler walloped an 0-1 pitch that one-hopped the fence and turned into her fourth triple of the campaign.   After a ground out, Turkalj plated Butler with a single to center field.

ODU's first two batters in the bottom of the first walked, but Guitar settled down and struck out the next three Panther hitters.

Wayne State had a chance to add to its lead in the third as Ashley Messina (Troy, Mich.) had a leadoff single and went to second on sacrifice bunt by Hailey Lazarek (Allen Park, Mich.).  After Butler was intentionally walked, a lineout and fielder's choice ended the threat.

Ohio Dominican tied the contest in the bottom of the third as Kline hit an 0-2 pitch into left field for a one-out base hit.  Liz Sutter followed with a bloop single.  Kelly Wallace was hit with a 2-2 offering and Casey Murdoch followed with a sacrifice fly.

The Warriors had a chance to break the tie in the fourth as Lucas walked and Guitar had a bunt single, but the next three Warriors were retired.

Kline led off the fifth with a walk and went to third on a single through the right side by Sutter.  After Sutter stole second, Guitar set down the next two batters on a strikeout and pop out, before Kline scored on a wild pitch.

Cameron Barber was hit by a pitch leading off the sixth, and flex runner Brooklyn Rayburn went to second as Farmer reached on an infield squibber.  Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and following an intentional walk to Kline, Rayburn scored on another wild pitch.

IN THE CIRCLE

Guitar (13-2) surrendered three earned runs on four hits in six innings.  She struck out nine, walked five and hit two.

Barber (5-3) earned the victory by limiting WSU to one earned run on six hits.  She struck out two and walked two.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Guitar and Messina each went 2-for-3.

LEADING THE PANTHERS

Sutter went 2-for-3, while Kline was 1-for-1 with three walks and two runs scored.

UP NEXT

Wayne State will have its annual Senior Day before the Sunday, April 23rd twinbill vs. Ashland.  First pitch of game one is slated for noon.