Wayne State University Athletics

Softball 4/19/2024 9:30:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Softball To Conclude Regular Season With Five Doubleheaders In Seven Days

Warriors travel to SVSU and GVSU this weekend.

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University softball team (14-23 overall, 6-10 GLIAC) enters the stretch run of five doubleheaders in a seven-day span to conclude the regular season. WSU visits Saginaw Valley State (Saturday at 1 pm) and Grand Valley State (Sunday at 1 pm) to complete the road slate, before hosting three twinbills next week - (Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. vs. Cedarville; Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. against Davenport; and Friday at 3:30 p.m. vs. Ferris State). The FSU games will be preceded by the Senior Day recognition of Alexis Bonk, Abby Favela, Becky Hodder, Kiley Lewandowski and Shelby Miller.

After going 4-4 in the first eight GLIAC games of the season, the Warriors compiled a 2-6 mark in the middle eight contests. WSU is currently sixth in the conference standings, with the top six teams qualifying for the league tournament (May 2-3-4-5) in Rosemont, Ill.

SERIES HISTORY
Despite Saginaw Valley State having won 10 of the last 11 meetings, Wayne State holds a 75-56 edge in the all-time series. WSU went 1-1 in University Center last year winning game two 6-3 after falling 4-1 in the opener on April 21, 2023.

The Warriors swept a doubleheader from Grand Valley State on April 10 (4-3, 4-2) marking the first time WSU took two from the Lakers in the same day since March 29, 2016. Wayne State has a 74-65-2 advantage in the all-time series since 1982.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Junior right fielder Rylie Josephson (West Bloomfield, Mich. / Walled Lake Central) continues to lead the Warriors in league play with a .491 batting average (26-for-53) with five doubles. Senior designated player Kiley Lewandowski (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Lincoln) is hitting . 373 (19-for-51) with five extra-base hits, while freshman catcher Logan Forman (Brantford, Ont.) is batting .364 (16-for-44) with seven extra-base hits and a team-best 10 RBI. Graduate student first baseman Becky Hodder (Orangeville, Ont.) has a team-high 10 walks and ranks second with a .407 on-base percentage. Hodder also leads the GLIAC and ranks third nationally in sac bunts per game (0.38 / 14 in 37 games).

In the circle, sophomore Sasha Buckberger (Oakville, Ont.) has a 2-3 record with a 3.80 ERA. She has struck out 17 batters in 31.1 innings, while senior Alexis Bonk (New Hudson, Mich. / South Lyon) has a team-high 26 strikeouts during conference games with a 5.55 ERA and a 3-3 record with one save. Freshman Sydney Long (Grand Blanc, Mich.) is 1-4 with a 5.71 ERA along with 24 strikeouts in 34.1 innings.

LEADING THE CARDINALS
Saginaw Valley State enters the weekend with a 24-17 overall record and an 11-7 mark in the GLIAC, which is tied for first with Purdue Northwest. SVSU dropped both games (3-1, 2-1) of a home doubleheader vs. Grand Valley State on Thursday.

Freshman Ella Reifschneider leads the Cardinals in batting at .372 (42-for-113) along with a team-best 23 walks for a .489 on-base percentage. Senior Maddie Campagna is hitting .347 (35-for-101), while newcomer Alana Kimble is batting .343 (36-for-105). Senior catcher Paige Kolinski has team-high totals of six home runs and 26 RBI.

Senior Emily Depew leads the SVSU pitching corps with a 12-6 record and a 2.50 ERA. She has struck out 124 batters in 115 innings. Kimble is 6-5 with a 2.68 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 78.1 innings, while Alyssa Muench (6-6, 3.71 ERA, 82 SO, 71.2 innings) has made 12 starts.

LEADING THE LAKERS
GVSU improved to 26-13 overall and 9-7 in the GLIAC with yesterday's two victories at SVSU. The Lakers visit Davenport on Saturday before hosting the Warriors on Sunday.

Senior Hannah Hollister is batting a team-best .373 (47-for-126) with a GLIAC-leading 28 stolen bases. She has walked 21 times for a .459 on-base percentage. Junior Morgan Spicer is hitting .347 (42-for-121), while classmate Kelsey Komorous has team-high totals of four home runs and 42 RBI, while batting .344 (42-for-122).

Nevaeh Ingram has a 6-0 record with a 1.57 ERA in 44.2 innings with 26 strikeouts, while three other hurlers have thrown at least 60 innings - Kylie Swierkos (5-3, 1.85 ERA, 33 SO, 60.2 IP), Genesis Eggart (8-5, 1.85 ERA, 66 SO, 75.2 IP) and Ashley Platek (6-5, 1.99 ERA, 36 SO, 63.1 IP).

UP NEXT
Wayne State is slated to play three home doubleheaders the final week of the regular season starting with a non-conference twinbill against Cedarville on Tuesday (2:30 p.m.). The regular season finishes with a pair of GLIAC doubleheaders vs. Davenport (Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.) and Ferris State (Friday at 3:30 p.m.).

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Players Mentioned

#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

#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

#8 Shelby Miller: SS/3B; 5' 7"; Senior; L/R

Players Mentioned

#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

#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

#8 Shelby Miller
: 5' 7"; Senior; L/R
: SS/3B