DETROIT -- The Wayne State University softball team (14-19 overall, 6-6 GLIAC) swept visiting Grand Valley State University (22-11 overall, 5-5 GLIAC) for the first time since 2016 with a pair of dramatic victories.  WSU claimed game one 4-3 with a run in the bottom of the seventh against the 14th-ranked Lakers.  In the nightcap, the Warriors trailed 2-0 but scored once in the fourth and another run in the fifth before plating two more runs in the sixth in the 4-2 triumph.

Game 1 Recap
Wayne State took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as junior Rylie Josephson (West Bloomfield, Mich. / Walled Lake Central) had a leadoff single, went to second on a sacrifice bunt by graduate student Becky Hodder (Orangeville, Ont.), advanced to third on a single by senior Abby Favela (Riverside, Ill. / Riverside-Brookfield) and scored on an RBI ground out by senior Kiley Lewandowski (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Lincoln).

WSU extended its advantage to 3-0 in the third with two runs.  Once again, Josephson had a leadoff single and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Hodder.  After Favela reached on an error, Lewandowski delivered an RBI single to left.  Freshman catcher Logan Forman (Brantford, Ont.) plated Favela with an RBI single down the left field line.

GVSU knotted the game in the fifth with a three-run rally.  Four consecutive one-out hits followed a nice play by Warrior shortstop Shelby Miller (Georgetown, Ont.), who went deep in the hole to throw out Kylie Sinal at first.  Jenna Ballard had a two-run double after Kelsey Komorous had an RBI single.

In the top of the seventh, Grand Valley's Hannah Hollister had a one-out bunt single but was thrown out for only the second time trying to steal second.  After a single, a fly out ended the frame. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Lewandowski laced a 1-0 offering through the left side.  Forman's sacrifice bunt moved Lewandowski to second where she scored on an RBI single to center by Miller for WSU's second walk-off hit of the season.

IN THE CIRCLE
Freshman Sydney Long (Grand Blanc, Mich.) limited GVSU to three earned runs on seven hits in seven innings.  She struck out four and walked three in recording her fifth win of the season.

Nevaeh Ingram started for the Lakers and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits in 2.1 innings.  She walked one and did not strike out a batter.  Ashley Platek (4-5) hurled the final four-plus innings allowing just one run on six hits with two strikeouts to one walk.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Josephson and Lewandowski each had two hits with Josephson scoring twice and Lewandowski driving in a pair and scoring the game-winning run.

LEADING THE LAKERS
Hollister went 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Morgan Spicer had two hits.

Game 2 Recap
Wayne State rallied from a 2-0 deficit for the 4-2 win.

Hollister scored in the top of the first after walking on a 3-2 pitch.  Komorous had a one-out RBI single.

In the third, Hollister bounced a single up the middle and went to third on a single down the first base line by Spicer.  She scored on a safety squeeze by Ballard.

WSU pulled within a run in the bottom of the fourth with a two-out rally.  Forman had a two-out single and scored on a double down the right field line by Miller.

The Warriors knotted the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth.  Freshman Mia Hool (Allen Park, Mich.) had a one-out double over the GVSU left fielder.  Sophomore Maddie Hool (Allen Park, Mich.) followed with a single to left center.  Josephson laced a 3-1 offering through the left side to score Mia Hool with the tying run.

GVSU brought in senior Genesis Eggart to start the bottom of the sixth.  Lewandowski began the winning rally by hitting a 3-2 pitch down the right field line for  a single.  Forman's sacrifice bunt moved Lewandowski to second.  Miller's single through the right side put runners on the corners.  Senior Alexis Bonk (New Hudson, Mich. / South Lyon) helped her own cause with a foul out sacrifice fly to right field.  Miller who had stolen second base during Bonk's at bat, scored on a single to center by Mia Hool.

Bonk pitched a 1-2-3 seventh on just five pitches.

IN THE CIRCLE
Bonk notched her fifth victory of the season by limiting GVSU to two earned runs on seven hits in seven innings, and no extra-base hits.  She Struck out five and walked one, while throwing 105 pitches (68 strikes).

Kylie Swierkos tossed the first five innings for Grand Valley and allowed two earned runs on seven hits with one strikeout and zero walks.  Eggart (8-3) threw 25 pitches in her lone inning and allowed two runs on three hits.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Josephson went 3-for-3 with an RBI, while Miller and Mia Hool each had two hits and an RBI.

LEADING THE LAKERS
Each of the first seven batters in the GVSU lineup had a single with Hollister also reaching via a walk.

Sweep of GVSU Notes
The last time Wayne State won two games in a day against the Lakers came on March 29, 2016, at the WSU Softball Stadium.  Recent WSU Hall of Fame inductee Lyndsay Butler tossed a pair of complete game performances in the circle.  In 14 innings, Butler allowed one run on five hits and one walk with 20 strikeouts on a combined 185 pitches.  Offensively, Butler went 5-for-8 with five RBI and three runs scored in the sweep.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will conclude its stretch of 12 games in nine days with a pair of road GLIAC doubleheaders starting this Saturday at Parkside and finishing with a twinbill at Purdue Northwest on Sunday.