CALEDONIA, Mich. -- The Wayne State University softball team (12-17 overall, 4-4 GLIAC) split a GLIAC doubleheader on Sunday at Davenport University (11-17 overall, 3-3 GLIAC).  The host Panthers won the opener 3-2 in 10 innings, but the Warriors rebounded for an 11-5 triumph in the nightcap.

Game 1 Recap
The first four innings were scoreless however WSU had a golden opportunity in the top of the first as graduate student Becky Hodder (Orangeville, Ont.) drew a one-out walk and senior Abby Favela (Riverside, Ill. / Riverside-Brookfield) doubled down the third base line.  The next two batters were retired on a pop out and strikeout.

The Panthers had a runner at third with one out in the second, but WSU hurler Sasha Buckberger (Oakville, Ont.) struck out the next two DU batters.  Davenport loaded the bases in the fourth but Buckberger induced an inning ending pop out.

In the top of the fifth, junior Rylie Josephson (West Bloomfield, Mich. / Walled Lake Central) had a two-out single and moved to second on another walk for Hodder.  Favela greeted relief pitcher Cecelia Bell with an RBI single through the right side to make it 1-0.

DU tied the game in the bottom of the seventh on a one-out infield single by Brooke Bernt.  She moved to second on a ground out and advanced to third on a wild pitch, before tying the game on a WSU fielding error.

Neither team was able to score in the eighth or the ninth, so the international tiebreaker rule went into effect for the 10th inning.

With Mia Hool (Allen Park, Mich.) placed on second, she advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by her older sister Maddie Hool (Allen Park, Mich.) and scored on a pinch-hit single by junior Mady Ruczynski (Richmond, Mich. / Armada).

In the bottom of the frame, Alexis Gills singled and stole second to put two runners into scoring position with both coming home on a single by Sophia Propps.

IN THE CIRCLE
Buckberger (3-1) allowed three runs (just one earned) on nine hits in nine-plus innings.  She struck out four and walked five.

Alayna Pinkelman started for DU and allowed one earned run on three hits and three walks in 4.2 innings with three strikeouts.  Bell (4-7) recorded the win in relief by allowing one unearned run (placed runner) on three hits in 5.1 innings.  She struck out one and did not walk a batter.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Josephson went 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Favela was 2-for-5 with an RBI.

LEADING THE PANTHERS
Gills and Propps each had two hits, with Propps driving in a pair.

Game 2 Recap
The Warriors started strong scoring once in the top of the first as Josephson had a leadoff single and went to second on Hodder's team-leading 10th sacrifice bunt.  Favela then laced an RBI triple to right center.

DU knotted the game in the bottom of the first on three singles and a walk.

WSU tallied five runs in the third as Josephson had a leadoff double and Hodder followed with a bunt single.  Freshman Logan Forman (Brantford, Ont.) had an RBI double, with senior Shelby Miller (Georgetown, Ont.) contributing a two-run single.  Mia Hool added an RBI double to make it 6-1.

The Panthers scored twice in the bottom of the third on three consecutive two-out hits including an RBI double and a run scored by Gills.

Davenport pulled within 6-4 with a run in the fifth on an RBI double by Propps.

In the top of the sixth, the Warriors erupted for another five runs.  Madison Martinez (Hemlock, Mich.) started the scoring spree with a single.  Josephson singled and Hodder doubled in both runners to make it 8-4.  Favela singled and scored with Hodder on Forman's two-run double.  Miller plated Forman with an RBI single increasing the margin to seven at 11-4.

DU scored once in the bottom of the sixth on a double by Bernt and a WSU throwing error.

IN THE CIRCLE
Senior Alexis Bonk (New Hudson, Mich. / South Lyon) earned the win allowing five runs (three earned) on 10 hits in the complete-game effort.  She struck out three and walked three.

Hailey Whisman (5-7), the first of four DU hurlers, allowed five earned runs on six hits in 2.1 innings with one strikeout and one walk.  Kelsey Byers allowed one earned run on three hits in 0.2 innings.  Bell came on in relief and surrendered five runs (four earned) on seven hits in 2.1 innings.  Pinkelman recorded the final five outs, allowing just one hit while notching two strikeouts.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Josephson, Hodder and Miller each had three hits as WSU pounded out 17 hits in the contest.  Favela and Forman each had two base hits as every Wayne State batter in the starting lineup garnered at least one hit.

LEADING THE PANTHERS
Gills went 3-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI, while Propps had two hits and two RBI.

UP NEXT
After a day off on Monday, WSU will visit Ferris State on Tuesday for a GLIAC twinbill starting at 2 p.m.  The Warriors will entertain Grand Valley State for a GLIAC doubleheader on Wednesday.  First pitch at Gary L Bryce Field is slated for 3:30 p.m.