WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- After an off day on Wednesday, the Wayne State University softball squad (6-6 overall) resumed competition at The Spring Games on Thursday afternoon.  After a slight schedule adjustment, the Warriors fell 6-3 to Hillsdale College (7-14 overall), then were shutout 5-0 by fourth-ranked Indianapolis (19-2 overall).

GAME ONE RECAP
The Chargers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second thanks to three consecutive singles coupled with a Warrior throwing error.

HC extended its advantage to 4-0 in the fourth as an error and a double preceded a three-run home run by Madison Rathbun.

WSU tried to rally in the fifth as junior outfielder Gabby Kaple (Galion, Ohio) had a one-out bunt single and went to third on a two-out single two right by fifth-year senior second baseman Rainey Psenicka (Guelph, Ont.).  A Hillsdale misplay in the outfielder let two runs score, while sophomore shortstop Shelby Miller (Georgetown, Ont.) scored on an RBI single by freshman outfielder Mady Ruczynski (Richmond, Mich. / Armada) to pull Wayne State within one at 4-3.

Hillsdale scored once in the fifth on a leadoff double by Elaine Townley and a two-out RBI single by Jenna Cantalupo, then added an insurance run in the sixth on a single by Natalie Stepanenko, a stolen base, a wild pitch and an RBI single by Townley.

IN THE CIRCLE
Graduate student Emily Karas (Macomb Twp., Mich. / Utica Henry Ford II) made her first career start for the Green and Gold after transferring from Oakland University.  She struck out two and did not walk a batter while allowing six runs (four earned) on 11 hits in six innings.

Joni Russell (5-4) limited WSU to three unearned runs on six hits in seven innings.  She struck out seven and walked one.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Psenicka had two hits and a run scored, along with reaching via a walk.  Ruczynski, Kaple, sophomore Alexis Bonk (New Hudson, Mich. / South Lyon) and sophomore outfielder Abby Favela (Riverside, Ill. / Riverside-Brookfield) each had one hit.

LEADING THE CHARGERS
Townley and Cantalupo each had three hits, while Rathbun contributed two hits and three RBI.

GAME TWO RECAP
Wayne State was out-hit 10-2 by fourth-ranked Indianapolis as the Greyhounds posted a 5-0 victory over the Warriors.

UIndy wasted no time as Dominique Proctor hit the first pitch of the game over the left-centerfield fence.

Indianapolis added two runs in the third on doubles by Sydnie Foster and Megan Nichols, along with an RBI single by Lexy Rees.

The Greyhounds scored their final two runs in the fourth on a Warrior throwing error, and an RBI single by Sydnie Foster.

IN THE CIRCLE
Senior Paige Ameel (Marysville, Mich.) allowed five runs (four earned) on 10 hits in seven innings.  She struck out three and walked three.

Kenzee Smith (10-1) blanked Wayne State on two hits.  She struck out nine and walked one.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Ruczynski and Bonk each had a hit, while senior catcher Avieri Ludwig (Chesterfield, Mich. / Anchor Bay) reached via a walk.

LEADING THE GREYHOUNDS
Haylie Foster and Sydnie Foster each had two hits, while six other UIndy batters had one hit.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will face Bloomsburg and Post on Friday, March 18th.