Game 1 - Upper Iowa 8 Wayne State 5

Game 2 - Wayne State 7 Upper Iowa 3

            A six-run sixth inning in the second game rallied Wayne State for a 7-3 win over Upper Iowa following a 8-5 Peacock victory in the opener as the Wildcats and Upper Iowa split a Northern Sun Conference softball doubleheader on a blustery Wednesday afternoon at the Pete Chapman Softball Complex in Wayne.  WSC is now 5-24 and 2-6 in the league while UIU sits at 11-14 and 2-3 in NSIC play.
            In the opener, the visiting Peacocks used a four-run seventh inning to hand the Wildcats a 8-5 defeat.
            UIU plated three runs in the top of the first followed by one run for the Wildcats in the bottom of the frame.  Kortney Buresh walked and later scored on a passed ball.
            WSC reduced the lead to 3-2 in the fourth with one run as Mary Krystofiak walked and scored on a Lauren Laudick RBI single.
            After UIU scored in the top of the fifth for a 4-2 lead, WSC came up with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 5-4 lead.  Alle Perea had an RBI single to score Paiton Tornberg, who walked.  Kim Vidlak reached on a fielder's choice and later scored on a wild pitch while the go-ahead run scored on a bases loaded walk to Lauren Laudick as Mary Krystofiak (walk) scored to put the 'Cats ahead 5-4.
            The score stayed the same until the top of the seventh when the Peacocks produced four runs on three hits and two Wildcat errors to claim an 8-4 win.
            WSC had six hits in the contest by six different players.  Buresh, Riley Holmberg, Krystofiak, Madison Gomez, Perea and Gomez each singled.
            Starting pitching Callie Carraher worked five innings and allowed four hits and four runs.  Freshman reliever Grace Lucka (0-3) was tagged with the loss in two innings of work allowing three hits and four runs.
            The second game featured a complete game win in the circle from freshman Samantha Felt coupled with a six-run sixth inning as the Wildcats rallied for a 7-3 win to gain a split.
            WSC scored in the first inning to open the scoring when Buresh singled to shortstop and later scored on a throwing error after stealing third base for a 1-0 lead.
            Upper Iowa responded with two runs in the top of the second to grab a 2-1 lead and the score remained the same until the bottom of the sixth inning when the Wildcats exploded for six runs.
            Jenna Etmans and Madison Gomez opened the inning with singles.  Krystofiak reached on an error that brought home pinch runner Abby Husing to tie the score at 2-2. 
            Buresh followed with a two-run single to center field scoring Gomez and pinch runner Emily Hale for a 4-2 Wildcats advantage.  A Riley Holmberg single up the middle scored Hayley Murphy, who walked, giving the 'Cats a 5-2 lead.  The next batter, Kim Vidlak, laced a single to center field that scored Holmberg and Buresh giving WSC a 7-3 lead to cap the six-run rally.
            Upper Iowa scored one run in the seventh inning to close the scoring in the 7-3 Wildcat win.
            WSC had 10 hits in the game.  Buresh finished 3 for 4 with two RBI and two runs scored.  Vidlak was 2 for 4 with two RBI while Etmans also went 2 for 4 with a double.  Lauren Laudick added a double.
            Felt fired her second straight complete game win for the Wildcats, improving to 2-5 on the season.  She allowed six hits and three runs (one earned) with one strikeout and three walks.
            The Wildcats will be at home again this weekend hosting Minot State Saturday at 12 p.m. and the University of Mary Sunday at 12 p.m. at the Pete Chapman Softball Complex in Wayne.