Softball || Wayne State University

WAYNE STATE (13-12 Overall, 2-1 GLIAC)
hosts Hillsdale (11-5 Overall, 0-2 GLIAC)
Friday, April 5 • 3:30 p.m.

at Ferris State (6-10 Overall, 0-0 GLIAC)
Saturday, April 6 • 1 p.m.

at Grand Valley State (21-3-1 Overall, 0-0 GLIAC)
Saturday, April 7 • 1 p.m.

Six Games in Three Days
The Wayne State softball team will play six games in three days, beginning with a home doubleheader against Hillsdale on Friday, April 5 at 3:30 p.m. The Warriors (13-12 overall, 2-1 GLIAC) will then head on the road to face Ferris State on Saturday, April 6, and Grand Valley on Sunday, April 7. The Ferris State and GVSU doubleheaders are both scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Wayne State currently sports a 2-1 league record, which puts them in a tie for third place in the GLIAC with Mercyhurst.

Last Time Out
The Warriors went 2-1 in GLIAC play after defeating Mercyhurst 11-5 on March 29 and splitting a doubleheader with No. 20 Gannon on March 30. WSU fell to the Knights in game one, 3-0, before handing GU its first loss of the season with a 2-1 victory in game two. The first game of the Mercyhurst series was called due to rain after WSU was leading 11-5 in the bottom of the fifth inning. The second game was cancelled.

In the victory over Gannon, the game proved to be a pitchers dual as both teams were held scoreless until the seventh and final inning. In the seventh, freshman Lisa Gauthier, hit a two-out double to left center. Sophomore Lindsay Sammut would follow with a pinch-hit single that sent Gauthier home. On the play, Gannon catcher Meredith Sherman bobbled the ball, allowing Gauthier to score.

With Sammut on second, freshman Jenna McWilliams hit her first double of the season to score Sammut and give WSU a 2-0 lead. Three straight singles by the Knights in the bottom of the seventh cut the WSU lead to 2-1, however, GU’s Lindsay Scholl grounded out to second with runners at first and third to give Wayne State a series split. In the win, junior Connie Milroth went seven full innings, allowing just five hits.

Saginaw Valley Games Postponed
The non-conference doubleheader at Saginaw Valley on April 3 was postponed due to inclement weather and unplayable field conditions. No makeup has yet been scheduled.

Warriors Ranked in NCAA Regional Poll
The Warriors are ranked in the top 10 of the latest NCAA Regional Poll, which was released on April 3. The first and second polls of the season rank 10 teams in each region in alphabetical order. For the third, fourth and fifth rankings, teams will be ranked 1-10. The Warriors are one of four GLIAC schools that are ranked in the Great Lakes Region (Findlay, Gannon, Grand Valley). Additionally, a team with a record below .500 may be ranked during the first ranking; the ranking must be above .500 on all subsequent rankings.

News N’ Notes

Wayne State has posted a 4-6 record against teams ranked in the NFCA Division II National Top 25 poll. The Warriors have played eight teams ranked in the top 25 with three of those squads being ranked in the top 10.

Sophomore Beth Berry has been hit by a pitch a team-high five times this season and has nine multiple hit games, which is also a team-best. She leads the team in batting average (.387) and is second in total hits (29).

Junior Betsy Kirk has hit safely in 13 of her last 15 games and currently has an eight-game hitting streak, dating back to the Spring Rebel Games in Florida (March 9-16). She also ranks second on the team with a .342 batting average.

Sophomore Leah Ondrovick hit a game-winning grand slam against Mercyhurst on March 29, giving her a team-high three home runs and 15 RBI.

Junior Connie Milroth leads the team in pitching with seven wins, four shutouts and 37 strikeouts. She is tied with freshman Lisa Gauthier with a 1.27 ERA.