Game 1 - Wayne State 4 Mary 2

Game 2 - Wayne State 7 Mary 4

            The Wayne State College softball team hit four home runs Saturday as the Wildcats swept the University of Mary 4-2 and 7-4 to open Northern Sun Conference play at the Pete Chapman Softball Complex.  WSC is now 14-9 overall and 2-0 in the league while Mary is 11-9 on the season and 0-2 in the NSIC.

            The first game saw senior All-American pitcher Katie Goetzinger strike out 13 Marauder batters while belting a three run homer to help the Wildcats win the opener 4-2.  The 'Cats plated three runs in the second inning when Aeriell Earleywine and Kristen Martinson drew one out walks followed by a Goetzinger long ball over the left field wall for a 3-0 Wildcat advantage.  Aeriell Earleywine led off the fourth inning with a solo blast down the left field line for a 4-0 WSC lead.  Mary scored single runs in the fifth and seventh innings on solo home runs by Calie Brown and Allison Brown to make the final score 4-2.

            WSC had five hits in the game to just three for Mary.  Goetzinger was 2 for 3 at the plate with a three-run homer.  Aeriell Earleywine added a solo homer and scored two runs while Kassie Nurton and Sam Earleywine each added hits for the Wildcats.  Goetzinger (9-4) earned the win with her 13 strikeouts while throwing her ninth complete game of the season, giving up just two runs on three hits.

            The second game saw Jennifer Radley and Sam Earleywine each connected for home runs as the Wildcats completed the sweep with a 7-4 win.  After Mary took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, WSC rallied with four runs in the third highlighted by Sarah Gottschalk's two-run double to left center field.  Brittany Greenwood and Aeriell Earleywine added RBI singles in the inning.

            The Wildcats added two runs in the fourth on back-to-back homers by Sam Earleywine and Radley to take a 6-2 lead.  Mary scored in the sixth to cut the Wildcat lead to 6-3, but the 'Cats got the run back in the bottom of the inning when Dani Sandel singled up the middle to score Slone Masters for a 7-3 WSC lead.  Mary scored in the seventh to make the final 7-4.

            WSC had 13 hits to nine for Mary in the second game.  Sam Earleywine was 3 for 3 with a homer and two runs scored while Radley finished 2 for 3 with a homer.  Aeriell Earleywine added two hits in the win.

            Freshman Jordan Harris (2-1) earned the win with relief help from Katie Goetzinger.  Harris worked the first five innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with one walk and one strikeout.  Goetzinger pitched the final two innings to notch her second save, striking out five batters while giving up one run on two hits.

            Wayne State will be at home again Sunday afternoon hosting Northern State in a Northern Sun Conference doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m.