Wayne State University Athletics

Softball 4/21/2026 9:01:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Softball Visits Tiffin For Final Non-Conference Doubleheader

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University softball team (16-23 overall, 8-12 GLIAC) will play its final non-conference doubleheader of the season tomorrow at Tiffin University (27-11 overall, 17-3 GMAC). First pitch of game one is slated for 2:30 PM.

SERIES HISTORY
WSU holds a 26-19 advantage in the all-time series which began in 2001. The squads met 28 times as GLIAC members (WSU leads 15-13), plus another four times in the GLIAC Tournament (2012-13-15-16), with the Warriors winning all four match-ups. The Dragons have won the last four meetings sweeping doubleheaders in 2024 (8-3, 2-1) at Tiffin, and in 2025 (7-1, 10-4) at WSU. Wayne State is 11-9 all-time in games played at TU.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Freshman Ellery Garver (Weidman, Mich. / Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart) has started the last 11 contests, and is hitting .424 (14-for-33) over her last 10 games played. Sophomore Elly Koopman (Hudsonville, Mich.), who currently leads the squad with a .372 batting average, has an active 15-game on-base streak (16-for-35 [.457] with 11 walks and five multiple-hit affairs). Koopman and sophomore shortstop Hunter Near (Coopersville, Mich.) are tied for the team lead with 19 walks, and both have on-base percentages over .415. A balanced offensive attack, six different Warriors have at least 12 RBI each with Koopman having a team-high 19 RBI.

Junior Sydney Long (Grand Blanc, Mich.) leads the pitching corps with nine wins and a 3.44 ERA. She has struck out a team-best 73 batters. Offensively, Long is hitting .328 (22-for-67) with nine extra-base hits and 14 RBI.

Nicole Tines is her fifth season leading the Warrior softball program.

LEADING THE DRAGONS
Tiffin has five batters hitting over .300 this season led by senior Tara Gall, who is 36-for-90 (.400) with 31 RBI. Freshman McKenna Scott is batting .389 (49-for-126) with a team-best eight stolen bases. Junior Ella Esterby is batting .371 (26-for-70) with a team-high 23 walks for a .527 on-base percentage. Sophomore Jessica Miller leads TU in home runs (8) and RBI (43), while hitting .366 (45-for-123). Miller and junior Tori McPherson are tied for the team lead with 12 doubles apiece.

Esterby and junior Lexi Key have pitched all but 2.2 innings for Tiffin this spring. Esterby is 13-7 with a 1.82 ERA and 106 strikeouts in 142.2 innings, while Key is 14-4 with a 2.09 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 103.2 innings for fifth-year head coach Paige McMenemy.

UP NEXT
Following the Tiffin twinbill, Wayne State will conclude the regular-season with eight consecutive GLIAC contests, six of which are at Gary L. Bryce Field. The Warriors will host Purdue Northwest on Saturday for Senior Day, followed by a Sunday doubleheader at home against Grand Valley State. WSU will finish the regular season with four games vs. Saginaw Valley State - May 1 at SVSU, and May 2 at WSU.

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Players Mentioned

#7 Ellery Garver: OF/SS; 5' 6"; Freshman; L/R

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

#7 Ellery Garver
: 5' 6"; Freshman; L/R
: OF/SS

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

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

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