Game 1 - Wayne State 1 #25 Missouri Western 0
Game 2 - Wayne State 4 #25 Missouri Western 1
The Wayne State College softball team used complete game wins from pitchers Katie Goetzinger and Jordan Harris to sweep #25 Missouri Western 1-0 and 4-1 in non-conference college softball played Thursday afternoon at the Pete Chapman Softball Complex in Wayne. The Wildcats have now won 11 of their last 12 games, improving to 12-7 overall, while the visiting Griffons fall to 20-7 on the season.
The first game saw senior pitcher Katie Goetzinger record her fourth shutout of the season throwing a complete-game two-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts to lead the Wildcats in a 1-0 win over Missouri Western. The lone run of the game was scored in the second inning as Sam Earleywine led off the inning with an infield single to second base, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Rachel Dukich and then scored on Jennifer Radley's double to right center field.
Missouri Western's lone scoring threat came in the fourth inning when the Griffons got two singles with just one out, but Goetzinger then got a foul out to third and a strikeout to end the Griffon scoring threat and WSC held on for the 1-0 win.
Wayne State had five hits to just two for Missouri Western. Sam Earleywine finished 2 for 3 and scored the lone run to lead the Wildcats. Radley doubled while Kassie Nurton and Hannah Engelkamp each singled for WSC. Goetzinger (8-3) earned the pitching win with her two-hit shutout and 13 strikeouts. She did not walk a batter.
The second game saw Akron-Westfield (Iowa) freshman Jordan Harris throw a complete game five-hitter for her first collegiate win as Wayne State completed the sweep with a 4-1 win over the Griffons.
The Wildcats took advantage of a Missouri Western error to score two runs in the second inning. Hannah Engelkamp walked, Sam Earleywine reached on a bunt single and Jennifer Radley singled to load the bases with two outs. Brittany Greenwood reached on a throwing error by Missouri Western third baseman Maegen Roemmich that scored Radley and Earleywine to put the Wildcats up 2-0. WSC went up 3-0 in the third when Aeriell Earleywine singled down the left field line and later scored when Hannah Engelkamp lined a shot off Missouri Western pitcher Jonnelle Belger with the ball trickling into left center field scoring Earleywine for a 3-0 lead.
WSC went in front 4-0 in the fourth when Jordan Harris reached on a Missouri Western error and scored on Dani Sandel's pinch-hit single. Missouri Western then got on the board with a solo homer by Leah Steele to make the final score 4-1.
Wayne State had six hits to five for Missouri Western. Engelkamp finished 2 for 2 with an RBI to lead the Wildcats at the plate. Dani Sandel, Aeriell Earleywine, Sam Earleywine and Jennifer Radley each singled for WSC.
Jordan Harris (1-0) pitched a complete game to earn the win for WSC, allowing five hits and one run with seven strikeouts and three walks.
Wayne State's scheduled home triangular vs. Northern State and Southwest Minnesota State on Friday at 1:00 p.m. has been cancelled due to predicted bad weather. The Wildcats' next scheduled action is Tuesday, March 29th at #24 Nebraska-Omaha at 2:00 p.m. and Wednesday, March 30th at Northwest Missouri State at 1:00 p.m.
