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 Sue Verbeem had the game-winning two-run double in the top of the eighth. |
April 18, 2006
DETROIT - The Wayne State University softball team (24-17 overall, 13-3 GLIAC) rallied for a 5-3 eight inning triumph over Hillsdale College (18-16 overall, 9-7 GLIAC) in the second game of a conference twinbill on Tuesday evening at the WSU Softball Stadium.
Trailing 3-2 entering the top of the seventh, Sarah Berry (Acton, Ont.) laced a one-out double to left field on a 2-2 offering. With two outs, Jordan Sinclair (Chatham, Ont./Chatham Kent S.S.) hit a screamer to right center that rolled to the fence scoring Berry with the tying run. WSU could have been trailing by more than a run except Amanda Dowe (Truro, Nova Scotia/Cobequid) made a diving catch after Sinclair had snared a liner in the bottom of the sixth.
In the bottom of the seventh after the first two hitters were retired, Britt Sevey beat out a slow roller up the first base line. Jamie Meyers singled and both runners moved up on a wild pitch, but WSU starter Sarah Ytsma (Chatham, Ont./McGregor S.S.) recorded the final out of the frame on a groundout.
In the top of the eighth, Laura Guzman (Royal Oak, Mich./Bishop Foley) walked on four pitches with one out. Lisa Seymour's (Davison, Mich.) bunt resulted in a bad throw by the HC first baseman. Sue Verbeem (LaSalle, Ont./Sandwich S.S.) then drilled a 2-0 pitch to right center scoring both runners.
Ytsma retired the side in order in the bottom of the eighth for her fifth consecutive victory. She struck out two and did not walk a batter, or allow an extra-base hit for the fourth time in her last five starts.
Wayne State scored twice in the top of the first on a walk to Verbeem, an RBI double by Berry and an RBI single by Sinclair.
The Chargers tied the score in the bottom of the first on a bases loaded two-run single by Katie Botsis.
Hillsdale took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third on a Meyers leadoff single, a sacrifice bunt Botsis and an RBI single off the bat of Ashley Wolff.
Neither team scored in fourth, fifth or sixth innings setting up WSU's late-game heroics.
Kayle Stevenson started in the circle for Hillsdale and allowed two runs on five hits in six innings with five strikeouts and six walks. Aimee Genter pitched the final two innings and allowed three runs on three hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
All eight of WSU's hits came from three batters: Sue Verbeem (2-3), Sarah Berry (3-4) and Jordan Sinclair (3-4).
Notes:
Wayne State left 10 runners on base.
WSU finishes its 14-game home stand at 12-2.
The Warriors walked a season-high seven times.
Sue Verbeem has a double in three straight contests.
Jordan Sinclair tied her season-highs with three hits and two RBI.
Amanda Dowe recorded a season-best two walks.
Sarah Berry finished the doubleheader 6-8 with three runs scored, two RBI, two doubles and a walk.
Wayne State begins a stretch of six consecutive non-league games on Wednesday at Northern Kentucky. The Warriors return home on Saturday for "Senior Day" in a 1 p.m. twinbill versus Indianapolis.
