KENOSHA, Wis. -- The Wayne State University softball squad (11-13 overall, 1-3 GLIAC) resumed GLIAC play on Sunday with a conference twinbill at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside (10-18 overall, 1-5 GLIAC). The host Rangers won the opener 12-4 in six innings, but the Warriors rebounded for a 12-1 triumph in the nightcap behind two two-run home runs from
Becky Hodder and a grand slam by
Taryn Peru.
GAME ONE RECAP
After WSU had a runner reach third with one out in the top of the first - senior catcher
Becky Hodder (Orangeville, Ont.) doubled and stole third - back-to-back ground outs ended the threat.
UWP grabbed a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the frame on a two-run, two-out double by Megan Medlin after the first two batters reached on a hit by pitch and a walk.
WSU knotted the game in the second as senior third baseman
Taryn Peru (Bath, Mich.) had a leadoff single and moved to second when sophomore center fielder
Mady Ruczynski (Richmond, Mich. / Armada) reached on an error. Sophomore right fielder
Rylie Josephson (West Bloomfield, Mich. Walled Lake Central) advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. A single through the right side by freshman left fielder
Jessie O'Donnell (Campbellville, Ont.) plated Wayne State's first run before Ruczynski scored on a single by senior first baseman
Breanna Paolatto (Belle River, Ont.).
The tie score lasted three batters before Cassie Rutledge smacked a two-run, two-out home run. The following inning the Rangers added to their lead with a solo home run from Mia Johnson, a two-run double by Tia Livernash and a two-run home run from Eden Welling.
The Warriors scored twice in the fourth to pull within 9-4. Ruczynski had a leadoff single and Josephson followed with a double. After back-to-back outs, Miller laced a two-run double into left center.
Rutledge hit another four-bagger, a two-run shot, in the fifth and the game ended on an RBI triple in the sixth by Haley Remington.
IN THE CIRCLE
Freshman
Hayden Batton (Plainfield, Ind. / Avon) started for the Warriors and allowed four earned runs in two innings on three hits and one walk. She struck out three.
Junior
Alexis Bonk (New Hudson, Mich. / South Lyon) tossed the final 3.1 innings and surrendered eight earned runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and four walks.
Kiley Akey (6-6) went the distance for Parkside allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits. She struck out one and did not walk a batter.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Hodder and Josephson each had two hits, including a double.
LEADING THE RANGERS
Rutledge went 3-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI. Remington also had three hits, while Medlin had two hits and two RBI.
GAME TWO RECAP
The Warriors jumped on Parkside starter Olivia Masnica for three runs in the top of the first. Hodder had a one-out double, her team-leading 12th two-bagger of the season. Sophomore shortstop
Leah Wrubel (Kalamazoo, Mich. / Mattawan) then smacked a 2-1 offering over the left field fence for her first career home run. Josephson fouled off three two-strike pitches before being plunked on the seventh pitch of the at bat. After a wild pitch moved Josephson to second, Bonk delivered an RBI single to right.
Wayne State extended its lead with a five-run second inning. Paolatto had a leadoff single and went to second on a sacrifice bunt. A bunt single by Hodder put runners on the corners. Wrubel ripped an RBI single up the middle to make it 4-0. After a fielder's choice, Bonk singled to left to load the bases. Peru blasted a 2-0 offering over the center field fence for a grand slam home run. It was the first grand slam by a WSU batter since
Rose Myers on May 8, 2021, at Purdue Northwest.
The Warriors added to their advantage in the third with a pair of unearned runs. O'Donnell reached on a fielding error before outs were recorded on the next two WSU hitters. On an 0-1 pitch, Hodder walloped her second home run of the season.
Hodder kept the Wayne State offense rolling in the fifth as Paolatto had a one-out double and scored on a two-run blast by Hodder, her second round-tripper of the contest. It marked the second time this year a Warrior had two home runs in a game (
Taryn Peru on March 5 at Ohio Dominican).
UWP pinch-hitter Dani Evans spoiled
Sasha Buckberger's (Oakville, Ont.) shutout attempt with a solo home run leading off the bottom of the fifth.
IN THE CIRCLE
Buckberger improved to 5-2 allowing just one earned run on three hits in five innings. She struck out two and walked four.
Masnica (2-4) faced six batters and recorded one out. She allowed three earned runs on four hits and a hit by pitch.
Olivia Fee hurled the next 1.2 innings allowing five earned runs on five hits. Ellie Curtis pitched the final three innings surrendering four runs (two earned) on three hits.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Hodder went 4-for-4 with three runs scored and four RBI, including two home runs. Wrubel, Bonk, Peru and Paolatto each had two hits as WSU pounded out 12 hits.
LEADING THE RANGERS
Rutledge reached base twice, both times via a walk.
UP NEXT
Wayne State continues on the road with a GLIAC doubleheader on Wednesday at Purdue Northwest.
