The Wayne State softball team combined for 22 runs and 22 hits Sunday afternoon in posting a Northern Sun Conference softball sweep at Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall, Minnesota by scores of 12-6 and 10-3.  WSC improves to 35-11 on the season and is now third place in the NSIC with a 15-7 league record while the host Mustangs are now 25-23 overall and 11-11 in the league. 
            Wayne State used three home runs and took advantage of six walks from SMSU pitching to win the opener handily 12-6 despite being out-hit in the contest 13-11.
            SMSU held a 1-0 lead heading into the fourth inning when the Wildcats broke loose for eight runs on six hits in the inning to take the lead for good.  Lillie Timm and Kennadi Borngrebe each connected for three-run homers to highlight the big inning while Leah Chance added an RBI double to go with a run-scoring single from Maddie Scobee.
            The Mustangs battled back with four runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Wildcat advantage to 8-5, but WSC responded with three runs in the top of the fifth to take an 11-5 lead.  The 'Cats made good use of five walks from Mustang pitching in the inning as the lone hit of the frame was a Taylor Coleman RBI single.
            Both teams scored a run in the seventh inning with Wayne State's coming on a solo homer from Scobee to finish with the 12-6 win.
            Eight of nine starters scored at least one run in the win for WSC.  Timm was 2 for 3 with a homer, double and three RBI to lead a balanced attack.  Borngrebe was 2 for 5 with a home run and three RBI while Scobee finished 2 for 4 with a homer and three RBI.  Chance added two doubles, going 2 for 4 with a run scored and RBI while Coleman also had two hits for the 'Cats.
            Coleman (13-4) earned the pitching win working 3 2/3 innings, striking out five while allowing four runs on six hits.  Junior reliever Jadeyn Stahr worked the final 3 1/3 innings and was charged with two runs on seven hits.
            The second game saw Borngrebe fire a complete-game win with 10 strikeouts in the circle while Timm had three doubles in going 3 for 4 at the plate as the 'Cats closed the sweep with a 10-3 victory.
            Wayne State scored four runs in the third inning as Scobee accounted for a two-run double for the big hit in the inning.
            After SMSU came up with three runs in the bottom of the third to make the score 4-3, WSC posted another four-run inning in the fourth to go ahead 8-3.  Jordyn Rochholz belted a two-run homer to left field to open the scoring.  Emilee Marth added an RBI single.
            WSC added two more runs in the fifth to culminate the scoring as Timm doubled to center field scoring Reagan Dreibelbis with the first run while Timm scored on a Leah Chance RBI single for the final run.
            Wayne State had 11 hits in the win, led by Timm's three doubles going 3 for 4 at the plate with two runs scored.  Marth was 2 for 3 with a pair of RBI while Scobee doubled and had two runs driven in along with Rochholz on her two-run homer.
            Borngrebe (14-6) earned another complete game win for the 'Cats, striking out 10 batters while walking five.  She allowed three runs on seven hits.
            Wayne State will be at home next weekend hosting the University of Mary Saturday at 12 p.m. and Minot State Sunday in a 12 p.m. doubleheader at the Pete Chapman Softball Complex.