Wayne State University Athletics

Softball 3/8/2026 8:00:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Softball To Host Oakland On Monday Afternoon

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University softball squad (4-3 overall) is scheduled to host Oakland University (8-8 overall) for a doubleheader on Monday afternoon. First pitch at Gary L Bryce Field is slated for 3:30 PM. This twinbill will be WSU's final games before heading to Florida for an eight-game schedule.

SERIES HISTORY
The schools have met just six times on the softball diamond since OU did not sponsor softball when they were a member of the GLIAC.

The Warriors earned a win (2-1) and a tie (2-2) vs. the Golden Grizzlies in Detroit on March 25, 2003 in the first-ever match-ups. WSU won twice the following year (6-1, 1-0) at OU. After a year off, the teams split a twinbill at Oakland in 2006 (OU 5-1, WSU 7-3). In the eight inning 7-3 Wayne State triumph, Sarah Teller drove in a pair of runs as part of a five-run top of the eighth, while Sarah Ytsma went the distance for the win.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Through seven games, sophomore shortstop Hunter Near (Coopersville, Mich.) is batting .545 (12-for-22) with four extra-base hits and a .909 slugging percentage. She has also walked six times for a .621 on-base percentage. Sophomore first baseman/pitcher Elly Koopman (Hudsonville, Mich.) has a team-best eight RBI. The top two in the WSU lineup - Near and freshman Brooke Bunch (Almont, Mich.) each have four stolen bases on the season.

Junior hurler Sydney Long (Grand Blanc, Mich.) has compiled a 3-2 record in five appearances with a 2.40 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 23.1 innings. She has one shutout in her three complete games.

Head coach Nicole Tines is in her fifth season guiding the Warriors.

LEADING THE GOLDEN GRIZZLIES
OU went 2-3 the opening weekend (Feb. 6-8) at the Dome in Rosemont, Ill., with a pair of wins over Western Illinois. Oakland posted three consecutive sweeps of Michigan-Dearborn, Lourdes and Rochester Christian, before a loss at Alabama, two losses at Memphis, and a pair of setbacks at North Alabama this past Wednesday.

Senior right fielder Kamryn Troyer is hitting a team-high .452 (19-for-42) with a squad-best six doubles. Sophomore corner infielder Kayla Turmell has a team-best 14 RBI and two home runs, while, freshman shortstop Autumn Liebhauser has smacked a team-high three round-trippers.

Sophomore pitcher Kenna Bommarito has a 3-2 record with a 1.89 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 37.0 innings. She has two shutouts in her five starts.

Chris Stelma is in his second season leading the Golden Grizzlies.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will play eight games over a five-day stretch in Melbourne, Fla. at the Space Coast Games. The Warriors begin spring break on Friday, March 13 with games against Mercy and Thomas More.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Brooke Bunch: RF; 5' 7"; Freshman; 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

Players Mentioned

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

#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