Game 1: Wayne State 8 Bemidji State 0
Game 2: Wayne State 6 Bemidji State 2
Jennifer Radley's walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning of game two led the Wildcats in a sweep of Bemidji State Tuesday afternoon at the Pete Chapman Softball Complex in Wayne. Wayne State downed the Beavers 8-0 in the first game and defeated Bemidji State 6-2 in game two. The sweep makes the Wildcats 30-12 overall and 15-5 in the NSIC. The pair of losses drops the Beavers to 8-35 overall and 2-20 in the NSIC.
In the first game, WSC broke open a close game by scoring six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to post an 8-0 win over the Beavers. The 'Cats opened the scoring in the first inning when freshman Kassie Nurton doubled and later scored on Sam Earleywine's double down the left field line for a 1-0 lead. WSC increased the lead to 2-0 in the third when Amy Sandstrom singled and later scored on Sam Earleywine's single to center field.
WSC then scored six runs in the fifth inning on seven hits to finish off the Beavers. Big hits in the inning included a three-run homer to left center field by Blaire Kuhl and RBI singles from Hannah Engelkamp, Aeriell Earleywine and Amy Sandstrom.
The Wildcats had 12 hits in the win as Amy Sandstrom finished 3 for 4 with two runs scored. Kassie Nurton finished 2 for 2 with two runs scored while Sam Earleywine doubled and singled going 2 for 3 with two RBI's.
Junior pitcher Katie Goetzinger (20-8) pitched a complete game one-hit shutout to earn the pitching win, striking out 12 batters without issuing a walk.
Bemidji State jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning in the second game as Stephanie Rossman belted a solo home run over the left field fence to give the Beavers a 1-0 lead. The Wildcats would not answer until the third inning when WSC would add a pair of runs to take a 2-1 advantage. The Wildcats scored the two runs on Radley's fielder's choice that drove in both Sandstrom and Kuhl.
The Beavers' Crystal Bowen hit a solo homer in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game at 2-2. The Wildcats offense went to work in the bottom of the seventh. Sandstrom reached on a single and Kuhl got on base after being hit by a pitch. Sam Earleywine followed with a walk to load the bases for Radley. The junior first baseman tagged a ball over the scoreboard in right centerfield to hit a walk-off grand slam and give Wayne State a 6-2 win.
Radley was 2 for 4 in game two with a career high six RBI's. Sandstrom was 2 for 4 with two runs scored. Kuhl added a hit for Wayne State while scoring two runs. Amber Baird (8-4) got the win for Wayne State pitching the final three and two thirds innings. Baird struck out four batters and allowed one hit and one run. Michelle Hogan started the game allowing two hits with five strikeouts in three and a third innings pitched.
Wayne State will play their regular season home finale on Wednesday afternoon hosting Southwest Minnesota State in a NSIC doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m. at the Pete Chapman Softball Complex.
