Wayne State College's softball team's season came to a close this afternoon as an extra inning loss to Minnesota State Mavericks. Wayne State gained a 4-1 lead in the eighth inning, but MSU would respond with three runs of their own and then would hit a walk off single in the 10th inning to defeat the Wildcats 5-4. Wayne State ends their season with a record of 31-24 and a conference record of 14-13.
            The Mavericks struck first with a home run in the bottom of the second inning to take the 1-0 lead. The Wildcats only recorded two hits through the first three innings with Kennadi Borngrebe singling up the middle in the second and Leah Chance hitting a single through the left side.
            The 'Cats knotted up the score with a lead off homer to left center by Emilee Marth in the top of the fourth inning. In the same inning, Samantha Felt would strand two runners after giving up one hit and a walk to keep it tied through four innings.
            In the fifth inning the 'Cats would put down the Mavericks in order and then left a pair of Mavericks on the bases in the sixth.
            Neither team could find the gap as both teams went scoreless fifth, sixth, and seventh inning. Wayne State had senior Lauren Laudick on first base in the top of the seventh but were unable to drive her home.
            Felt and the 'Cats defense would hold off any Maverick scoring attempt and were able to get the game to extra innings.
            Jordyn Rocholz would lead off the eighth inning and single to the short stop to get on base. Marth would reach first on a fielder's choice as Rocholz was thrown out advancing to second.
            Borngrebe doubled down the left field line and advanced Marth to third.
            With two runners in scoring position, Maddie Scobee stepped up to the plate. Scobee hit a single to the left center gap and drove in two runs to take a 3-1 lead over MSU.
            Hayley Murphy singled to left center and Scobee would advance to second. The Wildcats looked to add another insurance run and did that as Mary Krystofiak would single to the shortstop and Scobee would score the fourth run for WSC, taking a 4-1 before the final out was recorded.
            MSU responded to the 'Cats big inning with one of their own. Their lead off batter would hit a home run to right field to make it 4-2. After a single and a walked batter, Borngrebe would step into the circle for the Wildcats.
            The next batter would ground out and the runners would advance to second and third. A pinch batter would come in and double out to center field, driving in the tying runs to make it 4-4.
Borngrebe would strike out the next batter and the third out to ground out as the game went into the ninth inning.
            The Wildcats would go down in order in the ninth inning. MSU would load up the bases with one out after an error, a single, and a hit by pitch. With the bases juiced, Borngrebe struck out the second out and the third out of the inning would ground out to the pitcher, sending the game to the tenth inning.
            Taylor Coleman singled and would be the only hit recorded in the tenth inning for the Wildcats. MSU's lead off batter would be walked and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. The second batter was walked on a 3-2 count.
            WSC would get one out at third base and left runners on second and first. The final batter for Minnesota State singled up the middle and drove in the winning run, defeating Wayne State 5-4.
            Wayne States season comes to a close after their first 30-win season since 2015. Three Wildcats - Borngrebe, Coleman and Marth - all earned NSIC All-Conference honors with all three being named to the 2^nd team. The Wildcats finished the season with a 31-24 record and a 14-13 conference record.