April 15, 2006

Stats

DETROIT - The Wayne State University softball squad (22-16 overall, 11-2 GLIAC) recorded its third shutout of the season blanking Saginaw Valley State University (15-22 overall, 5-6 GLIAC) 1-0 in the first game of a Saturday afternoon league doubleheader at the WSU Softball Stadium.

WSU senior pitcher Meghan Misiak (Livonia, Mich./Churchill) notched her first shutout of the season limiting the Cardinals to just four base runners on one hit, two walks and an error. She retired the first six SVSU batters before Lorelea Rice reached on a fielding error, but Misiak then struck out the next four batters and retired seven in a row before a walk to Tabitha Greenwood. She retired the next four batters before Nicole Fick walked with two outs in the sixth. Stacy Kraatz followed with a sharp single through the right side, but the next hitter flied out. Three straight ground outs in the seventh concluded the shutout.

The lone run of the contest came in the bottom of the first inning. Senior shortstop Sue Verbeem (LaSalle, Ont./Sandwich S.S.) singled through the left side on a 2-2 offering to start the frame. Verbeem then beat the throw to second on a Becky Quinn (Ortonville, Mich./Oakland Christian) fielder's choice. Quinn was erased on a Robyn Haig (Waterloo, Ont./Waterloo C.I.) fielder's choice, but Sarah Berry (Acton, Ont.) singled up the middle on an 0-1 pitch scoring Verbeem.

The Warriors had another scoring chance in the third when Quinn drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a groundout and advanced to third on a Berry single, but the next two WSU batters were retired.

Misiak also tied a personal and team season-best with eight strikeouts. Kraatz went the distance for SVSU allowing one run on four hits with six strikeouts. WSU left six runners on base compared to four for the Cardinals.