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 Lindsey Perry's two-run home run gave WSU the win over SVSU. |
May 5, 2007
Midland, Mich. - The Wayne State University softball improved to 39-14 overall with a 4-1 triumph over Saginaw Valley (25-20) and in the process clinched at least a share of the GLIAC championship along with the league's automatic bid for the NCAA tournament.
The Cardinals scored once in the top of the second on a double by Jessica Anhel and two wild pitches.
The Warriors were held in check until the bottom of the fifth when Laura Guzman (Royal Oak, Mich./Bishop Foley) walked on a 3-2 offering with two outs. Lindsey Perry (Taylor, Mich./Kennedy) then drilled an 0-1 pitch over the left field fence giving WSU a 2-1 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, Sarah Berry (Acton, Ont.) had a leadoff infield single. Meredith Boxberger's (Plymouth, Mich.) sacrifice bunt advanced pinch-runner Sarah Teller (Chesterfield, Mich./L'Anse Creuse North) to second with Teller moving to third on a groundout. Lisa Seymour (Davison, Mich.) reached on a fielding error that allowed Teller to score. Stephanie LeClair's (Kitchener, Ont.) single to right moved Seymour to third, with Seymour scoring on a wild pitch.
SVSU loaded the bases in the top of the seventh on an error, a single and walk. But WSU pitcher Nicole Abel (Kitchener, Ont.) retired the next two batters on a fly out and a strikeout.
Abel had nine strikeouts and three walks in allowing one run. Stacy Kraatz had one walk and no strikeouts in six innings for SVSU.
Wayne State will now play Grand Valley in the loser's bracket final this afternoon.
