Wayne State could not overcome a six-run third inning by St. Cloud State as the #25 Huskies defeated the Wildcats 7-5 Friday afternoon in the semifinals of the Northern Sun Conference Softball Tournament in Sioux Falls. SCSU advances to the title game Saturday with a 46-12 record while Wayne State ends their season at 42-14. It was the second-most wins in program history for a Wildcat softball team and just the third time WSC softball has won 40 or more games in a season.
The 'Cats got off to a quick start, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning to take the early lead 2-0.
Leah Chance walked and later scored on an infield single to second by
Kennadi Borngrebe for the first run. Junior outfielder
Emilee Marth reached base on a fielder's choice and touched home plate on a
Lillie Timm single up the middle for the second run.
The score remained 2-0 WSC until the bottom of the third when St. Cloud State erupted for their big inning. With two outs and two runners on base, the Huskies used three straight walks followed by a single and double to produce six runs and take control of the contest.
Wayne State mounted a rally in the sixth inning off relief pitcher and NSIC Pitcher of the Year Macey Clark as the 'Cats scored three times to cut the deficit to 6-5.
Taylor Coleman reached on a fielder's choice followed by a
Haylee Weber single to left field putting two runners on.
Jordyn Rochholz then laced a double to left center scoring Coleman with
Jordyn Klein driving home Weber on a ground out for the second run. Chance then came through with a single to center field to drive in Rochholz reducing the Husky lead to 6-5.
St. Cloud State was able to produce an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 7-5 lead and the Huskies retired WSC in order in the top of the seventh to close with the 7-5 victory.
Both teams had seven hits in the game. Borngrebe finished 2 for 3 with a pair of singles and RBI for WSC. Rochholz doubled and had an RBI and run scored. Chance and Timm each contributed RBI singles in the game while
Maddie Scobee and Weber each singled.
Borngrebe (19-7) was tagged with the pitching loss, charged with six runs on five hits over three innings of work with five walks and three strikeouts. Junior
Jadeyn Stahr worked the final three innings and yielded on run on two hits with one walk and one strikeout.
