MIDLAND, Mich. – The 30th-ranked Wayne State University softball squad (27-9 overall, 6-4 GLIAC) notched its first conference doubleheader sweep by scoring 15 times and pounding out 22 hits in 8-2 and 7-3 victories at Northwood University (14-20 overall, 5-7 GLIAC) Sunday afternoon.
GAME ONE RECAP
WSU scored first in the top of the fourth as
Kristen Lucas (Newmarket, Ont.) led off with an infield single.
Megan Guitar (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) advanced Lucas with a sacrifice bunt. With two outs,
Ashley Messina (Troy, Mich.) laced a single up the middle plating Lucas.
The host Timberwolves knotted the game at one in the bottom of the fourth on a one-out solo home run by Riley Ostapowicz.
The Warriors broke through with five runs on three hits and a Northwood miscue in the top of the fifth.
Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont.) worked a one-out walk and went to second on a single through the right side by
Allie Buchanan (Cambridge, Ont.).
Brooke Turkalj (St. Jacobs, Ont.) singled to right to load the bases. Butler was safe on a throwing error to the plate. After a fielder's choice, Kyle Barrett (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) walloped a grand slam to center field to make it 6-1.
Wayne State added to its lead in the sixth as
Emma Adams (Rockwood, Ont.) had a leadoff walk and moved to second on a passed ball. A single to center by
Hannah McClounie (Essex, Ont.) advanced Adams to third. A ground out moved McClounie into scoring position, and Buchanan delivered a two-run single up the middle.
Northwood tallied one unearned run in the bottom of the seventh following a Warrior error, a walk and an RBI single by Danielle Bartodziej.
IN THE CIRCLE
Butler (15-7) allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits. She struck out six and walked two in recording her 100th career complete game to extend her own school record.
Makenzie Norton (1-6) was tagged with the loss after surrendering eight runs (three earned) on nine hits in 5.1 innings. She struck out one and walked three. Lexie Rabidue retired all five batters she faced.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Buchanan and Turkalj each had two hits as seven different Warriors had hits in the contest. Barrett's grand slam was the second of her career (first came on April 20, 2016, in game two vs. Saginaw Valley State).
LEADING THE TIMBERWOLVES
Abby Joseph went 2-for-2 with a walk, while Ostapowicz smacked her third home run.
GAME TWO RECAP
Butler began the game two scoring with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first to center field. It was Butler's team-leading fifth four-bagger of the campaign, and she equaled the school record for career hits at 309. The mark was originally set by Patty Grudzinski (1992-95). It was also Butler's 100th career extra-base hit (55 doubles, 20 triples and 25 home runs).
Northwood tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the second on a two-out solo home run to right by Jennifer Wontorcik.
The Warriors regained the lead in the bottom of the frame as Guitar had a leadoff infield single and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Barrett. She advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a double to left center by Messina.
Wayne State added to its advantage in the third as Turkalj smacked a two-out double to left center. An infield single by Lucas put runners on the corners before Guitar was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Barrett produced a two-run single to left increasing the WSU lead to 4-1.
The offense continued for the Warriors in the fifth with three runs plus leaving the bases loaded. Buchanan began the frame with a double to right center and scored when Turkalj reached on a bunt single along with a throwing error. With one out, Guitar doubled in Turkalj. With two outs, Messina was hit by a pitch and Adams worked a 3-2 walk. McClounie greeted reliever Rabidue with an RBI single.
Northwood cut into its six-run deficit with a one-out solo home run in the top of the sixth by Sydni Pauley. It was her team-leading 11th round tripper of the season. With two outs in the seventh, Bartodziej hit her first home run of the season to make it 7-3.
IN THE CIRCLE
Guitar (10-1) allowed three solo home runs and five hits in total. She struck out five and walked two.
Vanessa Ewing (7-11) started for Northwood and yielded seven earned runs on nine hits in 4.2 innings. She walked one and did not record a strikeout. Rabidue allowed four hits on the eight batters she faced, but did not allow a run.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Guitar went 3-for-3, while Barrett, Turkalj and Lucas each had two hits as part of WSU's 13-hit attack.
LEADING THE TIMBERWOLVES
Bartodziej was the lone NU batter with a multiple-hit game.
UP NEXT
Wayne State is halfway through its 12-game road trip with a 4-2 mark. The Warriors will play a GLIAC doubleheader at Tiffin on Tuesday before visiting Walsh on Friday (3 & 5 p.m.) and Lake Erie on Saturday (1 & 3 p.m.).
