Game 1 - Regis 6 #10 Wayne State 5 (9 inn.)
Game 2 - #10 Wayne State 8 Regis 0 (5 inn.)
The Wayne State College softball team, ranked 10th in this week's NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll, opened the 2011 season Friday afternoon splitting a doubleheader at Regis University in Denver. The Wildcats dropped the first game 6-5 in nine innings but bounced back to take the second game 8-0. Regis is now 4-3 on the season while WSC is 1-1.
In the opener, Wildcat freshman designated hitter Dani Sandel belted a three-run homer with two outs in the seventh inning to tie the score at 5-5, but Regis scored in the bottom of the ninth on a Wildcat throwing error to win 6-5. Regis held a 4-0 lead after four innings, but WSC cut the deficit in half in the top of the fifth inning with two runs Sam Earlerywine and Jennifer Radley laced RBI singles to score two runs for the Wildcats. Regis scored again in the sixth inning to take a 5-2 lead heading into the seventh inning.
Blaire Kuhl and Sam Earleywine each singled and later in the inning with two outs Sandel belted a three run homer to even the score at 5-5. The score remained tied until the bottom of the ninth when Regis led off the inning with a double by Nikki Haberkorn. Emily Anderson then put down a sacrifice bunt, but she reached on a throwing error by Wildcat pitcher Natalie Ruechel that allowed Haberkorn to score the game winning run for Regis.
Wayne State had nine hits in the first game as Sam Earlerywine was 2 for 5 with two runs scored while Kassie Nurton was 2 for 5 with a run scored. Dani Sandel added a three run homer while Blaire Kuhl, Jennifer Radley, Aeriell Earleywine and Brittany Greenwood each singled.
Freshman Jordan Harris (Akron-Westfield HS – Iowa) was the starting pitcher for WSC, working five innings with eight hits allowed. She gave up five runs (four earned) with three walks and two strikeouts. Reliever Natalie Ruechel suffered the loss, allowing one run (unearned) on four hits over three innings of work.
The second game saw Wildcat freshman pitcher Natalie Hauschild (Syracuse) throw a two-hit shutout as Wayne State earned a split with a convincing 8-0 win over the Rangers in five innings.
Wayne State opened the scoring in the second with two runs on a Hannah Engelkamp two-run double scoring Aeriell Earleywine and Jennifer Radley. The 'Cats went up 4-0 in the third when Aeriell Earleywine's two-run homer with two outs scored Radley. WSC put the game away in the fifth inning with four runs for the 8-0 win. Brittany Greenwood and Sarah Gottschalk each had RBI singles while Engelkamp had another two-run double to cap the big inning.
The Wildcats had 10 hits in the second game, led by Engelkamp's two doubles and 2 for 4 game with four RBI's. Aeriell Earleywine was 2 for 2 with three runs scored and two RBI's while Jennifer Radley and Brittany Greenwood each had two hits in the win. Blaire Kuhl and Sarah Gottschalk also had hits for the Wildcats.
Natalie Hauschild was impressive in her Wildcat debut in the pitching circle as the Syracuse, Nebraska freshman allowed just two hits while striking out five and walking one to post the shutout win.
Wayne State played the doubleheader without the services of senior All-American pitcher Katie Goetzinger, who is missing Friday and Saturday games in Denver due to a family funeral.
Wayne State will be in action again Saturday playing a doubleheader at Colorado School of Mines starting at 1:00 p.m. followed by a 12:00 p.m. doubleheader at Metro State Sunday in a rematch of last year's NCAA Super Regional final.
