Game 1: Minnesota Duluth 2 Wayne State 1

Game 2: Wayne State 4 Minnesota Duluth 2

            The Wayne State softball team split a doubleheader with Minnesota Duluth Sunday afternoon at the Pete Chapman Softball Complex in Wayne. The Bulldogs defeated the Wildcats 2-1 in game one and Wayne State downed Minnesota Duluth 4-2 in the second game. The split makes the Wildcats 28-12 overall and 13-5 in the NSIC while the Bulldogs are 26-11 overall and 13-7 in the NSIC.

            The two teams struggled to produce runs in the first game of the doubleheader. Junior Katie Goetzinger struck out 10 in the first game to hold the Bulldogs offense at bay. The Wildcats left nine runners on base in game one as WSC only managed one run.

            Minnesota Duluth got on the board in the top of the sixth inning when Tyra Kerr hit a two RBI single to give UMD a 2-0 advantage. The Wildcats added a run in the bottom of the inning with bases loaded as Aerielle Earleywine ripped a ball into leftfield scoring Brittany Greenwood from third. Alesha Finkey was then thrown out at home to end the inning and the Wildcats rally. WSC put two runners on in the bottom of the seventh, but failed to bring the runners across falling 2-1.

            Hannah Engelkamp was 2 for 3 for WSC with a double. Aerielle Earleywine was also 2 for 3 as she also added an RBI. Goetzinger (18-8) went the distance for Wayne State taking the loss allowing two runs on six hits with 10 strikeouts.

            The Wildcats got on the board first in game two as WSC scored two runs in the bottom of the third. The inning was highlighted by an RBI single by Blaire Kuhl and an RBI double by Sam Earleywine. Minnesota Duluth tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the fifth inning. The Wildcats took the lead back in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Wildcats once again loaded the bases, but this time capitalized as Engelkamp delivered a two RBI double to left center to give the Wildcats a 4-2 lead and the win.

            Kuhl was 2 for 2 in game two with an RBI and two runs scored. Engelkamp was 1 for 3 with two RBI's and Sam Earleywine was 1 for 2 with an RBI. Katie Goetzinger (19-8) got the win for WSC pitching the final two and a third innings. Goetzinger allowed only one hit and struckout four. Amber Baird started the game for Wayne State throwing four and two thirds innings. Baird allowed two earned runs on five hits.    

            Wayne State will be at home again on Monday afternoon hosting Bemidji State in a Northern Sun Conference doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m. at the Pete Chapman Softball Complex.