FINDLAY, Ohio -- The Wayne State University softball team (24-8 overall, 3-3 GLIAC) continued its pattern of splitting conference doubleheaders on Wednesday with a 3-0 triumph at the University of Findlay (16-13 overall, 6-2 GLIAC) in the opener, followed by a 5-4 setback in the nightcap. The game two defeat ended WSU's 11-game unbeaten streak (10 wins and a tie) vs. the Oilers with UF's previous win coming on April 4, 2012, by an 8-7 score.
GAME ONE RECAP
Wayne State's
Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont.) and Findlay's Jenna Inman put zeroes on the board for the first five innings with only a combined six base runners.
UF had the best chance to score in the opening innings as Madison Arnold tripled with one out in the bottom of the second, but Butler struck out the next two hitters.
WSU had two base runners with two outs in the fourth on a walk and Oiler miscue, but a ground out ended the inning.
The Warriors had a chance for a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth as
Hannah McClounie (Essex, Ont.) had a two-out double but was thrown out at the plate on a bang-bang play following a single by Butler.
In the top of the sixth,
Brooke Turkalj (St. Jacobs, Ont.) had a two-out single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. An infield single by
Kylee Barrett (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) put runners on the corners, and
Ashley Messina (Troy, Mich.) plated Turkalj with another infield hit.
Wayne State led 1-0 entering the top of the seventh when McClounie had a one-out single and moved to second on a single by Butler.
Allie Buchanan (Cambridge, Ont.) had a bunt single with McClounie scoring on a throwing error. An RBI ground out by
Kristen Lucas (Newmarket, Ont.) scored Butler with the game's final run.
IN THE CIRCLE
Butler (14-6) recorded her eighth solo shutout of the season by scattering three hits. She struck out nine and did not walk a batter.
Inman (5-4) allowed nine hits, but just three runs (two earned) with three strikeouts to two walks.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Butler, Buchanan and McClounie each had two hits.
LEADING THE OILERS
Arnold had two of UF's three hits with a double and a triple.
GAME TWO RECAP
The game was scoreless until a two-out single in the top of the third by Arnold. She stole second and scored on a single to left center by Kelley Cejer. Cejer stole second and continued to third on a throwing error by WSU. Cejer scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-0.
McClounie had a leadoff double in the bottom of the third, and advanced to third on a single through the left side by Butler. Buchanan's sacrifice fly cut the Warrior deficit in half.
Wayne State evened the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth as
Megan Guitar (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) had a leadoff single. McClounie doubled to put two runners in scoring position. After a ground out, and a Buchanan bunt that loaded the bases, Lucas plated Guitar with a ground out.
The Oilers answered in the top of the sixth with a walk and stolen base off Guitar. Butler entered the contest and allowed back-to-back RBI extra-base hits to Destinie Keeton (a triple) and Meredith Shepherd (double), which put UF in front 4-2.
In the top of the seventh, Arnold walked and moved to second on a walk to Cejer. Arnold was able to score from second on a fielder's choice which proved to be an important run for Findlay.
In the bottom of the seventh, Guitar singled and McClounie followed with her third double of the contest. The last Warrior with three doubles in a game was Lindsey Perry on April 18, 2006, against Hillsdale.
The next two WSU batters were retired before Lucas delivered a two-run single to pull Wayne State within 5-4. Turkalj singled to put the tying run in scoring position, but a pop out ended the contest.
IN THE CIRCLE
Guitar (8-1) suffered her first setback of the season after allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits in 5.1 innings. Butler surrendered two earned runs on two hits in 1.2 innings.
Hailey Bryan (9-6) notched her team-leading ninth victory by limiting the Warriors to four earned runs on 10 hits.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
In addition to McClounie's three doubles, Butler extended her hitting streak to 29 games with a 2-for-4 performance. Guitar chipped in with two singles and two runs scored.
LEADING THE OILERS
Arnold and Keeton each had two hits.
UP NEXT
Thursday's twinbill at Tiffin will probably be rescheduled due to the inclement weather forecast in Northwest Ohio for tomorrow.
