Box Score Wayne State 5 Alderson Broaddus 3

            Wayne State College used a two-run double from Ashley Hernandez and a bases-loaded clearing double by Abbie Hix while holding off a late Alderson Broaddus rally in the sixth and seventh innings as the Wildcats held on for a 5-3 victory over the Battlers at the National Training Center Spring Games Softball Tournament in Clermont, Florida.  The Wildcats improve to 5-6 on the year and 4-1 in Florida while Alderson Broaddus is now 1-6.
            The Wildcats struck for two runs in the top of the first inning as Kortney Buresh singled and Kamryn Sparks walked with both players scoring on a double from Ashley Hernandez into right center field.
            The score remained 2-0 until the top of the sixth inning.  Raquell Penke started the inning with a single to left field.  Hernandez and pinch-hitter Taylor Menard followed with one-out singles to load the bases for Abbie Hix, who cleared the bases with a double to left field giving the 'Cats a 5-0 lead.
            Those runs would prove beneficial for WSC as Alderson Broaddus scored three runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth to reduce the Wildcat advantage to 5-3.
            The Battlers made the game interesting in the bottom of the seventh.  After WSC retired the first two batters on a popup and strikeout, Alderson Broaddus used a single followed by two Wildcat errors to load the bases.  But WSC reliever Makenna Adkison got the cleanup hitter for the Battlers to line out to shortstop to end the game as the 'Cats held on for the 5-3 win.
            Wayne State held a 9-7 advantage in hits over Alderson Broaddus.  Hernandez went 2 for 3 with a double, single and two RBI while Kortney Buresh had a pair of singles going 2 for 4 with a run scored.  Hix went 1 for 3 with a double and three RBI while Baylee Rial, Penke, Menard and Annie Grammer each singled.
            Sophomore starter Maddie Moser (2-3) earned the win with relief help from Adkison.  Moser pitched the first 5 2/3 innings and gave up three runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts.  Adkison was credited with the save, working the final 1 1/3 innings and striking out two batters while allowing one hit.
            Wayne State is scheduled to face Concordia College of New York at 6 p.m. Wednesday evening at the National Training Center Spring Games in Florida.