DETROIT -- The Wayne State University softball squad (13-21 overall, 3-11 GLIAC) ended a four-game losing streak upending visiting Wisconsin-Parkside (13-23 overall, 4-10 GLIAC) 12-4 in six innings in the second game of Saturday's twinbill at Gary L. Bryce Field. The Rangers won the opener 4-2.
GAME ONE RECAP
UWP scored once in the top of the first on two singles and a two-out RBI double by Alex Wooten.
The Rangers extended their lead to 2-0 in the second on a leadoff single by Jadynn Powell, a sacrifice bunt, and a two-out single by Cassie Rutledge.
Parkside increased the margin to 4-0 in the third on a one-out single followed by a hit by pitch. With two outs, Powell delivered a two-run single through the right side.
The Warriors scored once in the fifth as sophomore
Rylie Josephson (West Bloomfield, Mich. / Walled Lake Central) had a leadoff triple to right center and scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman
Maddie Hool (Allen Park, Mich.).
The bottom of the sixth began with back-to-back singles by junior
Shelby Miller (Georgetown, Ont.) and senior
Becky Hodder (Orangeville, Ont.). Junior
Alexis Bonk (New Hudson, Mich. / South Lyon) drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Sophomore
Mady Ruczynski (Richmond, Mich. / Armada) produced an RBI ground out before another ground out ended the frame with two runners stranded in scoring position.
IN THE CIRCLE
Freshman
Sasha Buckberger (Oakville, Ont.) went the distance for WSU allowing four earned runs on 10 hits in seven innings. She struck out four and walked one.
Kiley Akey (8-8) limited Wayne State to four hits and two earned runs. She struck out two and walked two.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Bonk reached base three times on 1-for-1 with two walks.
LEADING THE RANGERS
Rutledge, Haley Remington, Wooten and Powell each had two hits, with Powell driving in two.
GAME TWO RECAP
The nightcap began with Parkside racing out to a 4-0 advantage, just like they did in game one.
Remington had a sacrifice fly, while Wooten and Powell had RBI singles giving the Rangers a 3-0 lead in the top of the first.
A walk, a throwing error and an RBI single by Meagan Maza put the guests in front 4-0 in the top of the third.
Wayne State stormed back with a six-run bottom of the third to take a 6-4 lead. Senior
Breanna Paolatto (Belle River, Ont.) had a leadoff double and moved to third on a ground out. After a walk to Hodder, sophomore
Leah Wrubel (Kalamazoo, Mich. / Mattawan) plated Paolatto with a single. Bonk walked to load the bases and Ruczynski also walked on five pitches to make it 4-2. After a pitching change, Josephson greeted reliever Shelly Deisz with a two-run double down the left field line to tie the game at 4-4. Freshman
Jessie O'Donnell (Campbellville, Ont.) had an infield single to load the bases and Hool singled for what would become the game-winning hit. Paolatto then walked on five pitches forcing in another run.
WSU added two more runs in the fourth as Hodder, Wrubel, Bonk and Ruczynski all singled with the latter two each notching an RBI making it 8-4.
The Warriors continued the hitting parade in the fifth with a trio of runs. Paolatto had another double and scored on a single by Hodder. Wrubel singled and Bonk delivered an RBI single prompting another UWP pitching change. After a fly out, Josephson plated WSU's 11th run with an infield hit.
In the bottom of the sixth after the first batter was retired, Paolatto walked on four pitches, while Miller worked an eight-pitch walk. Hodder then ripped a 2-2 offering down the right field line scoring Paolatto with the game-ending run.
IN THE CIRCLE
Bonk (4-6) recorded her first victory since March 5th. She did not allow an earned run while limiting the Rangers to four singles in six innings. She struck out eight and walked two.
Taylor Show started on the mound for UWP and surrendered five earned runs on five hits and three walks in 2.1 innings. Deisz allowed three earned runs on seven hits and one walk in 0.2 innings. Olivia Fee recorded four outs and allowed three earned runs on four hits with one strikeout. Kaci Shickel notched three outs and allowed one earned run on two hits and two walks.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Hodder went 4-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. Wrubel had three hits and three runs scored, while Bonk, Josephson, O'Donnell and Paolatto each had two hits as WSU pounded out 18 hits, the most since recording 18 hits vs. #20-Southern New Hampshire on March 17, 2018 (WSU had 23 hits against William Jewell on March 12, 2018).
LEADING THE RANGERS
Maza had two of UWP's four singles.
UP NEXT
Wayne State will host Purdue Northwest on Tuesday, April 18th with the first pitch for game one slated for 2:30 p.m. This doubleheader was originally scheduled for tomorrow (April 16th) but was delayed two days due to the impending weather.
