Softball 2/20/2024 11:27:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Softball To Commence 2024 Season At Lewis Dome Invitational

Warriors will begin with five games in the Dome.

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University softball squad will begin its 2024 campaign at the 11th Annual Lewis Dome Invitational this weekend. All games will be held at The Dome at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Ill.

The Schedule
WSU vs. Lewis (Field #1) - Thursday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. CT -- Live Video Live Stats
WSU vs. Minnesota-Duluth (Field #2) - Thursday, Feb. 22 at 8 p.m. CT
WSU vs. Truman State (Field #1) - Friday, Feb. 23 at 9 a.m. CT
WSU vs. Minnesota State-Moorhead (Field #1) - Friday, Feb. 23 at 11 a.m. CT
WSU vs. William Jewell (Field #2) - Saturday, Feb. 24 at 11 a.m. CT

Warrior Preview
Under the direction of third-year head coach Nicole Tines, WSU has 10 returning letterwinners, along with four freshmen, three incoming transfers and one other returnee on its 2024 roster.

Fifth-year senior catcher Becky Hodder was a First Team All-GLIAC selection a year ago, while senior utility player Shelby Miller and junior outfielder Rylie Josephson garnered Honorable Mention All-GLIAC recognition.

WSU returns all three pitchers from a season ago in senior Alexis Bonk, plus sophomores Hayden Batton and Sasha Buckberger. Joining the pitching corps for 2024 are freshman Sydney Long and Central Michigan transfer Madison Martinez. Bonk will also see action as a DP after batting .329 a season ago. Both Long and Martinez are slated to see action in the infield as well.

Abby Favela and Kiley Lewandowski are back on the active roster after missing all or most of 2023 due to injuries.

A veteran presence in the outfield will be junior Mady Ruczynski, who started all 46 games last year. Sophomores Maddie Hool (second baseman) and Jessie O'Donnell (outfield) combined to make 80 starts as rookies a season ago.

Two of the transfers are catcher/outfielder Kennedy Cole (Kent State) and outfielder Lauren Fritz (Oakland C.C.), while the other three newcomers are catcher/utility Logan Forman (Brantford, Ont.), and the Hool twins - Mia (utility) and Molly (first base/catcher).

Lewis Preview
The Flyers will take a 2-2 overall record into Thursday's game against Minnesota State-Moorhead, which precedes their contest vs. the Warriors. LU opened its season three weeks at the Mankato Tournament held in the Maverick Sports Dome by defeating Concordia-St. Paul (4-2) and Minnesota State-Mankato (6-2), but falling to Mankato (1-0) and Minnesota-Duluth (6-0). Becky Pearl is in her 10th season guiding the Flyers. This year's squad is led by senior Evie Calderon (.400, 1 2B, 3 BB, 2 SB) and sophomore Erica Hoffman (.333, 2 SB). In the circle, sophomore Allie Wondrasek is 1-0 with a save and a 0.70 ERA. Opponents are batting just .121 off the right-hander.

Minnesota-Duluth Preview
The Bulldogs are 3-0 after winning all three of its contests at the Mankato Tournament. UMD defeated Emporia State (6-5), Upper Iowa (10-7) and Lewis (6-0). Minnesota-Duluth will play Upper Iowa in the Lewis Tournament immediately preceding its game vs. WSU. Third-year Bulldog head coach Lynn Anderson's high-powered offense, which is averaging over seven runs per game, is led by senior Julia Gronholz (.667, 3 2B, 3 RBI) and sophomore Morgan McMillan (.500, 3 RBI, SB). Lauren Dixon, a senior lefty, leads the UMD pitching staff with a 2--0 record, a 2.50 ERA, and 23 strikeouts in 14 innings.

Truman State Preview
TSU is 4-5 overall after playing five games in Bentonville, Ark. (Feb. 9-10), and another four contests in Sioux Center, Iowa, this past Sunday and Monday. The Bulldogs lost twice to Winona State (7-1, and 8-7 in 9 innings) on Sunday, before sweeping Southwest Minnesota State (5-3 and 5-4) on Monday. Head coach Ron Ferrill is in his second season leading the Truman State program. Sophomore Emily Wood (.469, 3 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI), graduate student Cameryn Patterson (.433, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBI) and sophomore Cassie Smith (.414, 3 2B, 9 RBI, 5 SB) lead TSU offensively. Junior Madie Anderson has thrown the most innings and is 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 21 innings.

Minnesota State-Moorhead Preview
The Dragons will take a 5-3 overall record into Thursday's games vs. Parkside and Lewis. MSUM went 4-0 at the Minot Bubble Invite, followed by a 1-3 mark at the D2 Cactus Classic in Tucson, Ariz.on Feb. 8-9. Mike Armitage is in his third season leading Minnesota State-Moorhead. Sophomore Mack Gallagher (.429, 4 2B, 6 RBI, 5 BB) and classmate Azalya Lopez (.391, 2 2B, 1 3B, 6 RBI) lead the Dragons offensively. Lopez has also tossed the most innings in the circle (21.1) compiling a 2-2 record with one save and a 1.97 ERA with 19 strikeouts.

William Jewell Preview
WJC is 4-6 overall heading into Saturday's game vs. Wayne State. The Cardinals went 1-3 at the Alvy Early Classic in Bentonville, Ark. (Feb. 9-10), before going 3-3 over their last six games, which included a doubleheader sweep at Lincoln University, a Sunday split with Southwest Minnesota State and two setbacks to St. Cloud State on Monday. Dustin Combs is in his 18th season leading William Jewell and has over 400 victories. This year's squad is led offensively by seniors Sabrina Olmo (.438, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 SB) and Sophia Lopez (.429, 4 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI). Freshman Avrey Reynolds has a 2-3 record in six appearances in the circle with a 2.41 ERA and eight strikeouts in 29 innings.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will play a non-conference in-region doubleheader at Findlay on March 7th on its way to Florida for spring break.

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Players Mentioned

#18 Hayden Batton: P; 5' 8"; Sophomore; L/L

#15 Alexis Bonk: P; 5' 9"; Senior; R/R

#14 Sasha Buckberger: P; 5' 11"; Sophomore; R/R

#7 Abby Favela: LF/2B/SS; 5' 4"; Senior; R/R

#11 Logan Forman: C/UT; 5' 5"; Freshman; R/R

#16 Becky Hodder: 1B/C; 5' 3"; Graduate Student; L/R

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

#4 Rylie Josephson: RF; 5' 7"; Junior; L/R

#12 Kiley Lewandowski: DP/1B; 5' 4"; Senior; R/R

#6 Sydney Long: P; 5' 5"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#18 Hayden Batton
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; L/L
: P

#15 Alexis Bonk
: 5' 9"; Senior; R/R
: P

#14 Sasha Buckberger
: 5' 11"; Sophomore; R/R
: P

#7 Abby Favela
: 5' 4"; Senior; R/R
: LF/2B/SS

#11 Logan Forman
: 5' 5"; Freshman; R/R
: C/UT

#16 Becky Hodder
: 5' 3"; Graduate Student; L/R
: 1B/C

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

#4 Rylie Josephson
: 5' 7"; Junior; L/R
: RF

#12 Kiley Lewandowski
: 5' 4"; Senior; R/R
: DP/1B

#6 Sydney Long
: 5' 5"; Freshman; R/R
: P