Sioux Falls took a pair of games from the Wildcats on Friday afternoon in Wayne by final scores of 8-3 and 5-0. USF is now 18-27 on the season with a 10-14 record in the NSIC. WSC falls to 7-37 with a 3-16 NSIC record.
 
GAME ONE: SIOUX FALLS 8 WAYNE STATE 3
 
            In the second, Sioux Falls scored three runs off three hits to build the early 3-0 lead on the Wildcats. The Cougars extended the lead in the third, scoring an additional run making it 4-0. WSC recorded their first hit of the game in the bottom half of the inning from a Jordyn Klein double to right center.
            USF scored three more runs in the fourth and one in the sixth to make it 8-0 before the Wildcats looked to get back into the contest. In the bottom half of the sixth, Lillie Timm opened with a double out to right center, before Louisa Stowman brought in courtesy runner Abby Husing making it 8-1 Cougars. Catcher Hayley Murphy brought in courtesy runner Payton Kincaid on an RBI double to center field to cut into the USF lead at 8-2.
            In the bottom half of the seventh, Klein singled on a bunt. She was followed by a Timm single up the middle which loaded the bases. Designated player Dylan Sweeney brought in Klein reaching on a fielder's choice. But that would be the final run scored for the Wildcats making it 8-3 USF in game one.
            USF scored eight runs on 11 hits with two errors in the win while WSC scored three runs on six hits with three errors in the loss.
            Third baseman Timm and leftfielder Klein were both 2-3 from the plate to lead WSC. Samantha Felt was the pitcher of record for WSC falling to 2-15 on the year. Felt produced a pair of strikeouts in the loss. Callie Carraher pitched four innings in relief for the Wildcats.
 
GAME TWO: SIOUX FALLS 5 WAYNE STATE 0
 
            Wildcats avoided trouble to open the second game with a double play from second baseman Masyn Bunnell to first baseman Mary Krystofiak. In the bottom half of the first, Sweeney singled through the right side for WSC.
            In the third, WSC got a pair of runners on base following a double from Rochholz, her second of the day. But it wouldn't be enough as the Wildcats left two runners on to end the inning.
            USF took the lead in the fourth scoring four runs. The Cougars loaded the bases following a single to open the inning, a double and walk. The first run scored on a walk, the second on a Wildcat wild pitch, and the final two on a double down the left field line. In the bottom half of the inning, Krystofiak doubled for the Wildcats but get stranded on second base to end the inning.
            In the fifth, USF scored one more run following a triple and an RBI groundout on the following at bat. Wayne State would get the bases loaded in the third with a Klein single, Rochholz walk, and a Cougars error. But all three would be left on following the fifth with USF leading 5-0.
            The sixth and seventh innings saw singles from Krystofiak and Sweeney, but the Cougars hung on for the 5-0 win in Wayne.
            Game two saw USF score five runs on five hits with two errors while WSC had seven hits in the loss.
            Klein and Sweeney both went 2-4 from the plate and Krystofiak was 2-3 to lead WSC. Grace Lucka pitched four innings throwing 65 pitches with 34 strikes. Luka also had a pair of strikeouts in the loss and falls to 5-9 on the season. Felt pitched three innings in relief for WSC.
The Wildcats hit the road this weekend for a Sunday NSIC doubleheader at Minnesota State beginning at 12 p.m. in Mankato, Minnesota.