DETROIT -- The Wayne State University softball team (11-14 overall, 3-1 GLIAC) swept a conference doubleheader for the first time since March 31, 2022, with a pair of victories over Wisconsin Parkside (9-20 overall, 0-4 GLIAC) Saturday at Gary L. Bryce Field.  WSU held on for a 9-7 triumph in the opener, and rallied from a 4-1 deficit to win the nightcap 11-7.

GAME 1 RECAP
After the visiting Rangers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Warriors responded with five runs in the bottom of the frame.  After a one-out walk to graduate student Becky Hodder (Orangeville, Ont.), senior outfielder Abby Favela (Riverside, Ill. / Riverside-Brookfield) and senior designated player Kiley Lewandowski (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Lincoln) followed with back-to-back- singles to knot the score at 1-1.  A sacrifice fly by freshman catcher Logan Forman (Brantford, Ont.) scored the go-ahead run, and two batters later junior outfielder Mady Ruczynski (Richmond, Mich. / Armada) smacked her first home run of the season (and third career round-tripper) for a 5-1 advantage.

Wayne State added two runs in the second as sophomore third baseman Madison Martinez (Hemlock, Mich.) and junior Rylie Josephson (West Bloomfield, Mich. / Walled Lake Central) began the inning with consecutive singles.  A sacrifice fly by Hodder plated one run, and Favela followed with an RBI ground out.

Parkside scored three times in the third on three hits and two walks to cut the WSU lead to 7-5.  

Senior shortstop Shelby Miller (Georgetown, Ont.) had an infield single with one out in the bottom of the third, and scored when freshman pitcher Sydney Long (Grand Blanc, Mich.) blasted a shot off the right field fence for her first career extra-base hit.

UWP scored once in the fourth and an unearned run in the sixth to make it 8-7.  Sophomore pitcher Sasha Buckberger (Oakville, Ont.) led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk amd pinch-runner Lauren Fritz (Commerce, Mich. / Waterford Kettering) went to second on a one-out single by Josephson, moved to third on a single by Hodder and scored on a fielder's choice.

Senior pitcher Alexis Bonk (New Hudson, Mich. / South Lyon) tossed a 1-2-3 seventh for her first career save.

IN THE CIRCLE
Long allowed six earned runs on six hits in three-plus innings.  She struck out three and walked three.  Buckberger notched her second win of the season by limiting the Ranger to one unearned run in three innings on three hits and two walks with one strikeout.  Bonk retired the Rangers in order on 12 pitches with one strikeout.

Olivia Masnica (4-3) surrendered seven runs (six earned) on six hits in one-plus inning, throwing 65 pitches.  Olivia Fee tossed the final five innings allowing two earned runs on four hits with one strikeout and two walks.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Eight different WSU batters had hits with Josephson and Miller each recording two singles.  Ruczynski had a three-run home run, while Favela drove in two.

LEADING THE RANGERS
Taylor Delgado and Toni Rodriguez each had two hits with Delgado scoring twice and Rodriguez driving in a pair, as did Rylee Batez.

GAME 2 RECAP
In a game that featured six pitchers, 265 pitches, 18 runs and 26 hits, along with four errors, the Warriors out-lasted the visiting Rangers 11-7 in the nightcap.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the second when Forman had a leadoff single, went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Miller, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Bonk.  The Rangers answered with four runs in the third on five hits, including a two-run home run by Mia Johnson.

WSU pulled within a run (4-3) by scoring twice in the third.  Josephson had a leadoff single, was sacrificed to second by Hodder, moved to third on a single by Favela and scored on a base hit by Lewandowski.  After a pitching change Favela scored on a wild UWP throw following a caught stealing.  

The Warriors took the lead for good by scoring six times in the bottom of the fourth by sending 11 batters to the plate.  Martinez smacked her first home run of the season, a two-run shot to make it 5-4.  After the second out of the frame, three consecutive WSU hitters reached with Forman plating all three on a line drive triple to right.  Miller followed with an RBI single to make it 9-4.

Parkside scored three times in the seventh on four hits and walk but Buckberger was able to get back-to-back ground outs to end the contest.

IN THE CIRCLE
Bonk threw 98 pitches while getting nine outs and allowing four earned runs on seven hits with two strikeouts to three walks.  Buckberger earned her second win in relief of the day by limiting the Rangers to three runs in four innings of work on four hits.  She had retired nine of 10 (other than a reached on an error) until the final inning.

UWP's Hope Maes allowed three earned runs on five hits in 2.1 innings with one walk.  KC Shickel (0-6) surrendered four runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk in 1.1 innings.  Ellie Curtis recorded five outs while allowing seven hits and four runs (two earned).  Fee retired two of the three batters she faced.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Lewandowski and Forman each had three hits, while Josephson, Miller and Buckberger each contributed two hits.

LEADING THE RANGERS
Delgado, Rylee Baetz and Taylor Utrata each had two hits and scored once.

UP NEXT
The Warriors will be back in action on Tuesday (April 2) with a make-up doubleheader at Ferris State.  First pitch of game 1 is slated for 2 p.m.