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 Meredith Boxberger's third hit of the game drove in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth. |
April 5, 2006
DETROIT - The Wayne State University Warrior softball team (14-15 overall) won for the eighth time in the last nine games by scoring twice in the bottom of the eighth for a 5-4 extra-inning victory over Ferris State (13-17) in the second game of a non-conference twinbill at the WSU Softball Stadium on Wednesday.
The Warriors led 2-0 before the visiting Bulldogs scored three straight requiring WSU to score in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. FSU tallied once in the top of the eighth but Wayne State was able to score twice in the bottom of the frame for the triumph.
WSU scored unearned run in the bottom of the first as Sue Verbeem (LaSalle, Ont./Sandwich S.S.) reached on a fielding error, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Robyn Haig (Waterloo, Ont./Waterloo C.I.).
The next inning, Meredith Boxberger (Canton, Mich.) doubled to left center with two outs and Anna Schneider (Detroit, Mich./Farmington Hills Mercy) followed with an RBI single up the middle.
FSU scored once in the fifth on a home run by Laura Crower and then Crower delivered a two-run two-out double in the sixth.
In the bottom of the seventh, Boxberger had a leadoff single and moved to third on Schneider's sacrifice bunt that resulted in a Ferris error. Laura Guzman (Royal Oak, Mich./Bishop Foley) walked to load the bases but Boxberger was out at the plate on a force play. Becky Quinn (Ortonville, Mich./Oakland Christian) walked on four pitches plating pinch-runner Lisa Seymour (Davison, Mich.) with the tying run.
In the top of the eighth using the international tie-breaker rule, the first two FSU batters were retired, but Kristin Hollister had an RBI single to left field giving the Bulldogs a 4-3 lead.
In the bottom of the frame, Haig was placed on second. Sarah Berry's (Acton, Ont.) sacrifice bunt moved Haig to third and Lindsey Perry (Taylor, Mich./Kennedy) doubled to right center on a 1-2 pitch to tie the game. After a flyout, Boxberger singled to center field scoring Perry with the winning run.
Lauren Warkentien (East China, Mich./Marine City) started in the circle for Wayne State and allowed just one run in 4.1 innings. Sarah Ytsma (Chatham, Ont./McGregor S.S.) was touched up for three runs (two earned) in 3.2 innings but earned her fifth win of the season and third consecutive victory.
Notes:
WSU is 11-0 when scoring five or more runs.
Meredith Boxberger had a career-high three hits.
Becky Quinn walked a season-best two times.
Wayne State will play games three and four of its 14-game homestand this Saturday against GLIAC rival Gannon University. First pitch at the WSU Softball Stadium is slated for 1 p.m.
