WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- The Wayne State University softball squad (5-3 Overall) won twice on Monday during its spring break trip. WSU defeated Slippery Rock (4-7 Overall) 3-1 in the opener, then edged Stonehill (4-6 Overall) 5-4 in the nightcap. Stonehill was a last minute replacement as Minnesota Crookston had yet to arrive in Florida due to travel issues.
GAME ONE RECAP
The Warriors snapped a scoreless tie with a three-run home run in the top of the third by senior second baseman
Rainey Psenicka (Guelph, Ont.). The inning began with a single to right by freshman
Leah Wrubel (Kalamazoo, Mich. / Mattawan), and a four-pitch walk to sophomore outfielder
Abby Favela (Riverside, Ill. / Riverside-Brookfield). Psenicka then laced an 0-1 offering just over the left-center field fence.
The Warriors threatened again in the fourth with three consecutive two-out base runners as Wrubel and Favela had back-to-back singles, and Psenicka walked to load the bases. A strikeout ended the frame.
Slippery Rock's Mackenzie Freeman hit her fourth home run of the spring with two outs in the fourth, after Arielle Brown was tagged out in a run down between first and second.
Neither team scored over the final three innings.
IN THE CIRCLE
Senior
Paige Ameel (Marysville, Mich.) had another strong out limiting the Rock to one run on four hits. She struck out seven and did not walk a batter to improve to 2-2.
Kelsi Anderson (3-3), the ace of SRU's staff, had not allowed a home run in over 32 innings pitched this year until Psenicka's blast. Anderson struck out seven and walked two, while allowing three earned runs on nine hits.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Psenicka's second career home run was the difference. Favela had two hits, including a double, plus a walk, while Wrubel had two singles.
LEADING THE ROCK
Erin Gardner had two of SRU's four hits, with Freeman hitting a home run.
GAME TWO RECAP
It was a feast or famine first inning for WSU starting pitcher
Alexis Bonk (New Hudson, Mich. / South Lyon) who struck out the side, but also walked five batters in the frame as the Skyhawks plated two runs.
Wayne State's offense rallied with three runs in the bottom of the third. Junior outfielder
Gabby Kaple (Galion, Ohio) had a leadoff single, and after a fielder's choice, Psenicka doubled scoring Favela. Sophomore shortstop
Shelby Miller (Georgetown, Ont.) singled and stole second with both Psenicka and Miller scoring on a two-run go-ahead single by freshman outfielder
Mady Ruczynski (Richmond, Mich. / Armada).
The Warriors increased their lead to 4-2 in the fifth as Bonk had a two-out double, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by junior first baseman
Breanna Paolatto (Belle River, Ont.).
Stonehill tied the game at 4-4 with two outs in the seventh on a two-run double by Megan Lynch off WSU reliever
Emily Karas (Macomb Twp., Mich. / Utica Henry Ford II). Karas had entered in the sixth with the bases loaded and two outs and induced an inning ending ground out.
Graduate student third baseman
Rose Myers (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester) greeted Skyhawk reliever Skylar Brandemarte with a double. After a walk to Bonk, junior catcher
Becky Hodder (Orangeville, Ont.) laid down a sacrifice bunt with Myers scoring on a wild throw to first.
IN THE CIRCLE
Bonk earned a no decision after allowing two earned runs on three hits in 5.2 innings with eight strikeouts and 10 walks. Karas (2-0) notched her second win in relief this season surrendering two earned runs on two hits in 1.1 innings.
Kelly Mayette pitched the first six innings for Stonehill and allowed four earned runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and three walks. Brandemarte (3-3) surrendering one unearned run in the three batters she faced allowing one hit and one walk.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Psenicka, Miller and Bonk each had two hits as part of WSU's 10-hit attack. All three each scored once.
LEADING THE SKYHAWKS
Five different Stonehill batters had hits, with Lynch driving in a pair.
UP NEXT
Tuesday's game times have been moved up an hour with WSU facing Lock Haven at 9 am, and Minot State at 11:15 AM.
