Game 1- WSC 13 UNK 1
Game 2- WSC 10 UNK 2
The Wayne State College softball team braved the elements to sweep Nebraska-Kearney in non-conference play Tuesday afternoon in the home opener at the Pete Chapman Softball Complex in Wayne. The Wildcats defeated the Lopers in the first game 13-1 in a contest that was suspended in the bottom of the third inning for an hour and 15 minutes due to rain, lightning and hail. WSC then took the nightcap from UNK 10-2 in five innings. The Wildcats are now 10-7 on the season following the wins while the Lopers fall to 7-15.
WSC jumped on UNK early in the first game scoring five runs in the first inning on six hits. Blaire Kuhl's two-run homer over the left centerfield fence highlighted the inning along with run scoring singles by Jennifer Radley, Katie Goetzinger and Brittany Greenwood. The 'Cats added two runs in the second on a Jennifer Radley two-run shot to take a 7-1 lead. WSC scored three more runs in the bottom of the third after the game was resumed when Hannah Engelkamp produced a two-run single and Blaire Kuhl added an RBI single. The 'Cats scored three more runs in the fourth inning on a Vicki Nielsen pinch-hit two run single and a pinch hit RBI single from Kristen Martinson to make the final score 13-1.
The Wildcats outhit UNK in the first game 15-5. Jennifer Radley and Blaire Kuhl each had three RBI's with a homer and single to lead a balanced attack at the plate. Katie Goetzinger, Rachel Dukich and Hannah Engelkamp each contributed two hits in the win.
Senior Katie Goetzinger improved to 6-3 on the season with the complete game win, allowing one run on five hits with 10 strikeouts for Wayne State.
The second game saw the Wildcats once again use the longball to jump out in front of the Lopers. Engelkamp got WSC started with a two-run homer over the left field fence to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead after an inning. The Lopers tied the score at 2-2 in the top of the second inning, but the tie did not last long as the Wildcats added three runs in bottom of the second inning to take a 5-2 lead. The three run inning was highlighted by a two-run single by Aeriell Earleywine and an RBI single by Brittany Greenwood that almost left the park.
The Wildcats added two more runs in both the third and fourth innings to take a 9-2 lead into the fifth inning. The third and fourth innings were fueled by six hits. The Wildcats ended the game in the bottom of the fifth inning as Greenwood singled through the left side scoring Sloane Masters and giving the Wildcats the 10-2 win.
Three Wildcats went 3 for 3 in the second game as Greenwood, Radley and Engelkamp each had three hits for WSC. Greenwood and Radley added three RBI's while Engelkamp added two RBI's in the contest. Aeriell Earleywine was 1 for 2 with two RBI's and a run scored.
Goetzinger picked up the win for WSC pitching the final three innings to move to 7-3 on the season. Goetzinger allowed two hits and struck out four while allowing no runs. Natalie Hauschild started the second contest for the Cats' going two innings allowing one earned run on four hits.
Wayne State will be in action again on Thursday hosting #22 Missouri Western (15-3) in a 2:00 p.m. non-conference doubleheader at the Pete Chapman Softball Complex.
