Wayne State University Athletics

Marissa Krynak

Elly Koopman went 5-for-5 with five RBI in the two wins and was the winning pitcher in game two.

Softball 2/14/2026 9:58:00 PM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Softball Wins Twice On Opening Day

WSU blanks Lincoln Memorial; Out-scores Bluefield State.

HARROGATE, Tenn. -- The Wayne State University softball team (2-0 overall) began its 2026 campaign with a pair of wins at the Lincoln Memorial Invitational. The Warriors blanked the host Railsplitters (3-4 overall) 7-0 in WSU's first game of the day, then out-scored Bluefield State (0-2 overall) 10-6 in the nightcap.

GAME 1 RECAP
Wayne State scored twice in the top of the first on a leadoff double by Hunter Near (Coopersville, Mich.), a bunt single by Brooke Bunch (Almont, Mich.), and an RBI single by Elly Koopman (Hudsonville, Mich.), before a one-out sacrifice fly by Sydney Long (Grand Blanc, Mich.).

LMU's first two batters reached, but Long settled down retiring the next 10 Railsplitter batters before a one-out single in the fourth.

The Warriors extended their advantage with a five-run second inning as Mia Hool (Allen Park, Mich.) had a leadoff single, went to second on a one-out single by Near and both base runners scored on a double by Bunch. Koopman followed with an RBI single to make it 5-0. Kate DeWitt (Grand Blanc, Mich.) singled, and Long greeted relief pitcher Aslynn Lupton with an RBI single. Molly Hool (Allen Park, Mich.) concluded the scoring with a sacrifice fly.

WSU had chances to add to its lead as Koopman had a one-out double in the fourth; Abby Barnes (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Northview) and Julia Sandles (Macomb, Mich. / Dakota [Missouri-St. Louis]) recorded fifth inning singles; three walks in the sixth to Bunch, Koopman and Long loaded the bases with one out but a pop out and a fly out ended that frame.

IN THE CIRCLE
Long (1-0) tossed a three-hit shutout and faced only 25 batters. She struck out five and walked one.

Katie Fultz (0-2) allowed seven earned runs on nine hits in 1.1 innings. She struck out two and did not walk a batter. Lupton notched four scoreless innings of relief allowing four hits and three walks with one strikeout. Jasmine Kaylor hurled the final 1.2 innings and retired all five batters she faced.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Koopman went 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored, while both Near and Bunch had two hits apiece.

LEADING THE RAILSPLITTERS
Three different players had a single.

GAME 2 RECAP
Bluefield State scored three times in the top of the first on three hits and one WSU miscue.

WSU rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame as Near walked, Bunch was hit by a pitch, Koopman and DeWitt both walked to force in a run and Ella Vinco (Riverview, Mich.) followed with a sacrifice fly.

The Big Blue extended their advantage to 4-2 with a run in the second on a passed ball.

The Warriors took the lead for good with a three-run second inning. After a one-out walk to Mia Hool, Near blasted her first home run of the season to knot the game at 4-4. Bunch and Koopman both walked, before DeWitt delivered a tie-breaking RBI single.

In the bottom of the third, Wayne State erupted for five runs. Barnes reached on an error with one out, Mia Hool singled and Near plated Barnes with an RBI single to make it 6-4. A walk to Bunch loaded the bases and Koopman smashed a three-run double for a 9-4 lead. WSU's last run came on an RBI single by Vinco.

The score remained 10-4 until BSU tallied two runs in the top of the sixth.

IN THE CIRCLE
Koopman (1-0) went the distance for the Warriors allowing six runs (four earned) on 10 hits. She struck out six and walked two.

Desrai Brown faced two batters to start for BSU with both runners eventually scoring. Taylor Fells (0-2) took the loss after being tagged for eight earned runs on six hits and six walks in three innings of work. Yonah Rogers scattered five hits in three innings and did not allow a run.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Near went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three RBI. Koopman reached base all four time with two hits and two walks, while driving in three. Vinco contributed a pair of RBI.

LEADING THE BIG BLUE
Jackie Sandy reached base four times on two hits and two walks, while Mikaylah Chimara had two hits.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will conclude the LMU Invitational on Sunday with games against Tiffin (10 AM) and LMU (Noon).

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Players Mentioned

#14 Abby Barnes: C/LF; 5' 7"; Sophomore; R/R

#5 Brooke Bunch: IF/OF; 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R

#20 Kate DeWitt: 3B/DP; 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R

#1 Mia Hool: OF; 5' 5"; Junior; R/R

#3 Molly Hool: 1B/C; 5' 5"; Junior; R/R

#21 Elly Koopman: P/1B/DP; 5' 8"; Sophomore; L/R

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

#8 Hunter Near: SS; 5' 8"; Sophomore; R/R

#11 Ella Vinco: IF; 5' 5"; Freshman; R/R

#12 Julia Sandles: OF; 5' 3"; Sophomore; L/R

Players Mentioned

#14 Abby Barnes
: 5' 7"; Sophomore; R/R
: C/LF

#5 Brooke Bunch
: 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R
: IF/OF

#20 Kate DeWitt
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R
: 3B/DP

#1 Mia Hool
: 5' 5"; Junior; R/R
: OF

#3 Molly Hool
: 5' 5"; Junior; R/R
: 1B/C

#21 Elly Koopman
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; L/R
: P/1B/DP

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

#8 Hunter Near
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; R/R
: SS

#11 Ella Vinco
: 5' 5"; Freshman; R/R
: IF

#12 Julia Sandles
: 5' 3"; Sophomore; L/R
: OF