ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The Wayne State University softball squad (4-3 overall) concluded play at the 2026 Lewis Dome Invitational with a thrilling 11-7 triumph over Quincy University (2-10 overall) on a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning by junior pitcher Sydney Long.  In the battle of Warriors, Wayne State fell 5-2 to Winona State (7-1 overall) in the nightcap.

GAME ONE RECAP
WSU took a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the bottom of the second as junior Molly Hool (Allen Park, Mich.) had a one-out single and moved to second when older sister Maddie Hool (Allen Park, Mich.) was hit by a 2-1 offering.  A dropped fly ball loaded the bases, before sophomore Abby Barnes (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Northview) had an RBI single through the left side.

Wayne State extended its lead to 2-0 in the fourth as Maddie Hool had a leadoff single, went to second on a sacrifice bunt by younger sister Mia Hool (Allen Park, Mich.) and then scored when sophomore Julia Sandles (Macomb, Mich. / Dakota [UMSL]) had a bunt base hit along with an errant throw.

The Hawks scored once in the fifth and tied the score at 2-2 in the sixth on a two-out solo home run by Haleigh Winter.

The Warriors responded with two runs in the bottom of the sixth as Mia Hool had a leadoff single and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Barnes.  Sophomore Hunter Near (Coopersville, Mich.) walked with two outs after falling behind 1-2 in the count.  Freshman Brooke Bunch (Almont, Mich.) delivered an RBI double down the right field line with Near scoring on a throwing error.

In the top of the seventh, back-to-back one-out walks preceded a fly out.  On the 13th pitch of the ensuing at bat, Kaidence Dumas hit a three-run home run to center field to put Quincy ahead 5-4.

WSU battled in the bottom of the frame as sophomore Kate DeWitt (Grand Blanc, Mich.) had a leadoff double and advanced to third on a fielding error.  Molly Hool followed with an RBI single to knot the game at 5-5.

QU plated the international tie-breaker (ITB) runner in the top of the eighth, before Sandles scored in the bottom of the inning after a sacrifice bunt by Near, and sacrifice fly by Bunch.

The Hawks again took the lead in the ninth as the ITB runner scored.  Long, who was WSU's ITB runner, crossed home plate on a one-out double by Molly Hool.

In the top of the 10th, Quincy had two pop outs sandwiched around a walk before a fielder's choice ended the threat.  With one out in the bottom of the 10th, Near walked on four pitches, while Bunch battled back from an 0-2 deficit to work a seven-pitch walk to load the bases.  Ahead 2-0 in the count, Long walloped the next offering just to the right of the 235 sign in centerfield for a walk-off grand slam.

IN THE CIRCLE
In a game that featured 347 pitches (183 by WSU to 164 by QU), 23 hits, 10 walks, 15 strikeouts, three wild pitches and three hit batters, Wayne State prevailed.

Junior Kyra Shadduck (DeWitt, Mich. [Lansing C.C.]) allowed two runs (one earned) in 5.2 innings as WSU's starter.  She struck out five and walked two.  Sophomore Elly Koopman (Hudsonville, Mich.) recorded seven outs, while allowing four runs (three earned) on two hits.  She struck out two and walked two.  Long (3-1) allowed just the ITB runner in the ninth, while recording six outs.

Hailey Platt tossed 5.2 innings for the Hawks allowing four runs (one earned) on nine hits, with three strikeouts to two walks.  Emma Stieferman retired one of three batters she faced allowing one earned run.  Alexus Freeman (0-1) hurled the final 3.1 innings allowing six runs (three earned) on three hits and two walks.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Molly Hool went 4-for-5 with two RBI, while Bunch went 3-for-4 with two RBI.  Long smacked the game-winning walk-off grand slam.

LEADING THE HAWKS
Dumas went 3-for-5 with three RBI.

GAME TWO RECAP
Winona State grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first after a leadoff triple by Alyssa Woelfel and a one-out sacrifice fly by Indigo Fish.

Winona State increased its advantage to 3-0 in the third on back-to-back two-out RBI hits by Fish and Lila McNeill.

Wayne State pulled within a run with a pair of scores in the bottom of the third.  Barnes had a one-out single and Near followed with a base hit.  After a ground out advanced both runners, Koopman ripped a two-run single through the right side.

Winona State scored once in the fourth on a two-out ground-rule double by Bryn Elsenpeter, and then added a run in the seventh on a two-out RBI single by Braelee Jodarski.

IN THE CIRCLE
Long (3-2) went the distance allowing five earned runs on 13 hits in seven innings.  She struck out seven and walked one.

Izzy Howe (4-0) tossed the complete game for Winona State limiting Wayne State to two earned runs on four hits.  She struck out eight and walked one.

LEADING WAYNE STATE
Near went 2-for-2 with a walk and scored once.

LEADING WINONA STATE
Both Jaden Johnson and Tiegan Mancuso went 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Woelfel had two hits and a run scored.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will be idle until hosting Division 1 Oakland University on Saturday, March 7th at Gary L Bryce Field.