HAMMOND, Ind. -- The Wayne State University softball team (22-19 overall, 7-13 GLIAC) split a conference doubleheader Sunday afternoon at GLIAC newcomer Purdue University Northwest (22-19 overall, 12-12 GLIAC). PNW rallied from a 1-0 deficit for a 3-1 triumph in the opener, while WSU scored five runs in the top of the eighth in the nightcap, after having a 5-1 lead evaporate in the bottom of the seventh, then held on to win 10-6.
GAME ONE RECAP
The host Pride won 3-1 despite being out-hit by the Warriors 8-3.
WSU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on back-to-back singles by senior
Kristen Lucas (Newmarket, Ont.) and freshman
Rainey Psenicka (Guelph, Ont.). After a sac bunt by sophomore
Brooke Turkalj (St. Jacobs, Ont.) and infield single by freshman
Bryanna Kressler (Kitchener, Ont.) to load the bases, a force out at home preceeded a bases loaded walk to junior
Hannah McClounie (Essex, Ont.).
PNW tied the game in the bottom of the second with a leadoff home run by Holly Pagan.
The Pride scored twice in the sixth to win the game on a sacrifice fly and throwing error.
IN THE CIRCLE
Junior
Megan Guitar (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) suffered the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits. She struck out two and walked two.
Courtney Blackwell (6-7) earned the victory by limiting WSU to one run on eight hits. She struck out four and walked two.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Lucas, Kressler and freshman
Rose Myers (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester) each had two hits.
LEADING THE PRIDE
Three different Purdue Northwest batters each had one hit.
GAME TWO RECAP
For the second consecutive game, WSU scored in the top of the first as Lucas had a leadoff triple and scored on a single by Turkalj.
PNW tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth on a single, wild pitch, passed ball and a double.
The Warriors responded with three runs in the top of the fifth. Lucas had a leadoff double, and McClounie followed with a bunt single. Lucas scored on a fielder's choice to break the deadlock, and Kressler's RBI ground out made it 3-1. Junior
Ashley Messina (Troy, Mich.) had an RBI single increasing Wayne State's advantage to 4-1.
In the sixth, Lucas had a two-out single, and scored on McClounie's double.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Pride's leadoff batter reached on an error to open the floodgates. The next four batters reached on a single, double, home run and single to knot the game at 5-5.
Senior
Kylee Barrett (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) reached to leadoff the eighth on an error. Sophomore
Emma Adams (Rockwood, Ont.) followed with a single, before Lucas had a sac bunt to advance both runners. McClounie doubled in a pair of runs, and Kressler had an RBI single. Messina singled in a run with the 10th run for WSU scoring on a ground out.
Purdue Northwest scored once in the bottom of the eighth.
IN THE CIRCLE
Guitar earned the win despite allowing six runs (five earned) on 12 hits in eight innings. She struck out four and walked four.
Mia Stevens hurled the first three innings and surrendered six runs (four earned) on eight hits, before Samantha Burgard pitched the final five innings. She allowed four earned runs on seven hits. The PNW pitching duo combined for three strikeouts and zero walks.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
McClounie had four hits and three RBI, while Lucas and Messina each had three hits. Turkalj contributed two hits and two RBI.
LEADING THE PRIDE
Kyleigh Payne had four hits, three runs scored and three RBI, while Sammie Miller went 3-for-3.
UP NEXT
After playing the last 10 games away from Detroit (3-7 record), the Warriors return home for a GLIAC twinbill on Tuesday against Saginaw Valley State. Game one is slated to begin at 3:30 p.m. at Gary L. Bryce Field.
