Wayne State University Athletics

Taryn Peru hit two home runs and drove in five runs on Sunday.

Softball 3/5/2023 4:40:00 PM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Softball Splits Twinbill At Ohio Dominican

WSU won the opener 8-3, before falling 6-1 in the nightcap.

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Wayne State University softball team (3-5 overall) concluded a three-game series at Ohio Dominican University (7-10 overall) with a doubleheader split on Sunday. WSU won the opener 8-3, before the host Panthers claimed the nightcap 6-1.

GAME 1 RECAP
The Warriors scored an unearned run in the top of the second as freshman left fielder Jessie O'Donnell (Campbellville, Ont.) reached on a one-out fielding error, and following a fielder's choice, sophomore shortstop Leah Wrubel (Kalamazoo, Mich. / Mattawan) doubled in the game's first run.

Wayne State extended its lead in the third as senior third baseman Taryn Peru (Bath, Mich.) smacked WSU's first home run of the season, a two-run shot to left center scoring freshman second baseman Maddie Hool (Allen Park, Mich.), who had a one-out double.

Senior catcher Becky Hodder (Orangeville, Ont.) led off the fourth with a double to center, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Wrubel and scored on a single to right by senior first baseman Breanna Paolatto (Belle River, Ont.).

ODU scored once in the bottom of the fourth on a leadoff single and a one-out double.

WSU increased its lead to 6-1 in the fifth as junior pitcher Alexis Bonk (New Hudson, Mich. / South Lyon) had a leadoff single and moved to second on a single by Peru. Bonk scored on an infield single with a throwing error, while Peru crossed home plate on a safety squeeze by O'Donnell.

Peru walloped her second round-tripper of the contest in the sixth playing Bonk, who had reached on a two-out error.

The Panthers scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to complete the scoring.

IN THE CIRCLE
Bonk improved to 3-1 by limiting Ohio Dominican to three runs (one earned) on five hits. She struck out four and walked three.

Addison Smodilla (1-5) started for ODU and allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits in 3.1 innings. She struck out one and did not walk a batter. Emily Holland pitched 1.2 innings allowing three hits and two unearned runs. Liana Morreale hurled the final two innings giving up two unearned runs on two hits with two strikeouts.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Peru went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and four RBI on two two-run home runs. Sophomore center field Mady Ruczynski (Richmond, Mich. / Armada) and Wrubel each had two hits and an RBI. Peru became the first WSU batter with a two home run contest since Amy Claydon smacked two round trippers against Northwood in 2021.

LEADING THE PANTHERS
McKenna Conley had two hits and an RBI in the seventh inning.

GAME 2 RECAP
WSU took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first as junior right fielder Shelby Miller (Georgetown, Ont.) led off the game with a single and scored on a two-out triple by Peru.

With one out in the bottom of the first and an apparent ground out to the pitcher for the second out, an illegal pitch was called allowing Alli Madden to single on the next offering. With two outs in the frame, Olivia Congleton reached on a single to right with a two-base error, then scored on a single to make it 3-1.

The Panthers added to their advantage in the fifth on three singles and a two-run double by Alexis Stevens.

IN THE CIRCLE
Freshman Sasha Buckberger (Oakville, Ont.) started for WSU and surrendered six earned runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings. She struck out two and did not walk a batter. Bonk recorded the final five outs allowing two hits and a walk with one strikeout.

Marlee Jacobs (5-2) limited Wayne State to one run on six hits in seven innings. She struck out two and did not walk a batter.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Peru had two hits and drove in the only WSU run.

LEADING THE PANTHERS
Stevens and Madden each had two hits with Stevens and Congleton each driving in a pair of runs.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will be idle until beginning its spring break trip on Saturday (March 11th) with a pair of in-region games against GLVC members Illinois-Springfield and Truman State.

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Players Mentioned

#15 Alexis Bonk: P/DP; 5' 8"; Junior; R/R

#14 Sasha Buckberger: P; 5' 9"; Freshman; R/R

#16 Becky Hodder: C; 5' 4"; Senior; L/R

#2 Maddie Hool: 2B; 5' 4"; Freshman; R/R

#8 Shelby Miller: IF/RF; 5' 6"; Junior; L/R

#9 Jessie O'Donnell: LF; 5' 7"; Redshirt Freshman; R/R

#3 Breanna Paolatto: 1B; 5' 9"; Senior; R/R

#13 Taryn Peru: 3B; 5' 5"; Redshirt Senior; R/R

#19 Mady Ruczynski: CF; 5' 8"; Sophomore; R/R

#6 Leah Wrubel: SS; 6' 0"; Sophomore; R/R

Players Mentioned

#15 Alexis Bonk
: 5' 8"; Junior; R/R
: P/DP

#14 Sasha Buckberger
: 5' 9"; Freshman; R/R
: P

#16 Becky Hodder
: 5' 4"; Senior; L/R
: C

#2 Maddie Hool
: 5' 4"; Freshman; R/R
: 2B

#8 Shelby Miller
: 5' 6"; Junior; L/R
: IF/RF

#9 Jessie O'Donnell
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Freshman; R/R
: LF

#3 Breanna Paolatto
: 5' 9"; Senior; R/R
: 1B

#13 Taryn Peru
: 5' 5"; Redshirt Senior; R/R
: 3B

#19 Mady Ruczynski
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; R/R
: CF

#6 Leah Wrubel
: 6' 0"; Sophomore; R/R
: SS