UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. -- The Wayne State University softball squad (16-24 overall, 5-13 GLIAC) continued its splitting ways on Friday afternoon falling 4-1 in the opener at Saginaw Valley State University (29-12 overall, 13-6 GLIAC), before notching a 6-3 victory in game two. It was the second consecutive day the Warriors split with a team ranked in the top 10 in the region this week, and the fourth consecutive doubleheader WSU won the nightcap to salvage a split.
GAME ONE RECAP
The Cardinals scored three times in the bottom of the third on a two-run home run by Katelyn Pnacek, and a solo shot by Sarah Gersch.
Wayne State's lone run came in the fifth as sophomore
Leah Wrubel (Kalamazoo, Mich. / Mattawan) had a leadoff single and went to second on a ground out. A two-out single up the middle by freshman
Jessie O'Donnell
(Campbellville, Ont.) plated Wrubel.
SVSU scored an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth on a walk, a stolen base, a Warrior error and a wild pitch.
IN THE CIRCLE
Freshman
Sasha Buckberger (Oakville, Ont.) suffered the setback to fall to 5-9. She allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits in six innings. She struck out five and walked three.
Emily Depew improved to 12-4 by limiting WSU to one run on four hits in seven innings. She struck out five and walked one.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Wrubel had one of WSU's four singles and scored a run.
LEADING THE CARDINALS
Jackie Popko had two hits, including a double and scored a run.
GAME TWO RECAP
For the second consecutive contest, SVSU scored first as the Cardinals tallied two runs in the bottom of the first on another two-run home run by Pnacek.
WSU responded with three runs in the top of the third to grab a 3-2 advantage. O'Donnell had a leadoff single, and advanced to second on a single by freshman
Maddie Hool (Allen Park, Mich.). Junior
Shelby Miller (Georgetown, Ont.) singled to load the bases. Senior
Becky Hodder (Orangeville, Ont.) recorded an RBI via a bases loaded walk. Senior
Taryn Peru (Bath, Mich.) followed with a two-run single up the middle.
Saginaw Valley State evened the score in the bottom of the fourth on a one-out double by Sara Moos and three walks in a four batter span with Pnacek recording the RBI.
The Warriors snapped the deadlock in the sixth as Wrubel had a leadoff single and was sacrificed to second by sophomore
Mady Ruczynski (Richmond, Mich. / Armada). After a foul out, O'Donnell plate Wrubel with a single to center field.
WSU starting pitcher
Alexis Bonk (New Hudson, Mich. / South Lyon) ran into difficulty in the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back two-out walks. Freshman
Hayden Batton (Plainfield, Ind. / Avon) walked Pnacek to load the bases before inducing an inning ending ground out.
Wayne State added a couple of insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Hool had an infield single and Miller followed with a single. SVSU reliever Jaclyn Groves walked Hodder to load the bases. Peru scored one run with a sacrifice fly, and after a single by Wrubel re-loaded the bases, Ruczynski notched a sacrifice fly.
SVSU went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh.
IN THE CIRCLE
Bonk pitched the first 5.2 innings to earn the victory, while Batton recorded her first career save.
Alyssa Muench (8-4) was tagged with the loss after allowing six earned runs on 10 hits in six innings. She struck out two and walked one. Groves faced five batters allowing a hit and a walk.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Miller, Wrubel, O'Donnell and Hool each had two hits, while Hodder reached base three times with a single and two walks.
LEADING THE CARDINALS
Five different SVSU batters each had a hit, while Pnacek reached base three times on a home run and two walks.
UP NEXT
Wayne State will play its final two home games of the season on Sunday against GLIAC leader Grand Valley State. Senior Day ceremonies began at 12:40 p.m.
