Game 1 - Wayne State 4 Northern State 1
Game 2 - Wayne State 10 Northern State 0 (6 inn.)
Wayne State junior pitcher Katie Goetzinger struck out 16 batters Sunday afternoon to lead the Wildcat softball team to a 4-1 win over Northern State in the first game of a NSIC doubleheader in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The Wildcats completed the sweep in the second game with a convincing 10-0 six inning win over the Wolves. WSC is now 27-7 overall and tied for second in the NSIC with a 12-2 league mark while Northern State falls to 6-26 on the season and 2-14 in the NSIC.
In the first game, the story was the pitching of Goetzinger. She struck out 16 batters without issuing a walk while allowing just three hits and one run. The 16 strikeouts in a single game ties her own school record set last season (April 19, 2009) at Bemidji State.
Offensively, WSC took a 1-0 lead in the second when Kassie Nurton's single to left field scored Sam Earleywine to give the 'Cats the early lead. WSC took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning when Goetzinger's single up the middle scored Blaire Kuhl. After Northern State scored on a Whitney Luhring homer in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 2-1, WSC added two insurance runs in the seventh inning to make the final score 4-1. Amy Sandstrom homered down the left field line for the first run while Blaire Kuhl later produced a sacrifice fly that scored Aeriell Earleywine with Wayne State's final run.
The Wildcats had nine hits in the win, led by Sandstrom going 2 for 4 with a homer. Seven other players had singles for the Wildcats in support of Goetzinger's stellar pitching performance.
The second game saw Sam Earleywine go 2 for 3 with a home run and four RBI's to lead the Wildcats in a 10-0 win over the Wolves to complete the sweep.
WSC scored four runs in the third inning, highlighted by Earleywine's three-run homer to left center field, giving the 'Cats a 4-0 advantage. WSC scored again in the fourth inning as Aeriell Earleywine's single to center field scored Kassie Nurton to make the score 5-0. The 'Cats put the game away with a five-run sixth inning to polish off the Wolves. WSC had just three hits in the inning to score the five runs. Katie Goetzinger doubled, Amber Baird singled and Sam Earleywine had an RBI single to cap the inning.
Wayne State outhit Northern State 8-3 in the win. Sam Earleywine was 2 for 3 with a homer and four RBI's to lead the 'Cats at the plate while Sandstrom finished 2 for 3 with two runs scored. Goetzinger doubled while Aeriell Earleywine, Amber Baird and Kassie Nurton each singled. Nurton had a team-high three runs scored.
Amber Baird and Michele Hogan combined on a three hit shutout on the mound. Baird improved to 7-2 on the season, working five innings and allowing just three hits with five strikeouts and no walks while Hogan pitched the sixth inning, striking out two and walking one without allowing a hit.
Wayne State is scheduled to play at Nebraska Omaha Tuesday in a non conference doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m. followed by a NSIC home doubleheader on Wednesday against Minnesota State in Wayne starting at 2:00 p.m.
