Eastern Wayne Today

The Wayne State University softball team improved their record to 6-7 after securing two victories on the second day of their spring break trip in Clermont, Florida. The Warriors first claimed a narrow 10-9 win against Sioux Falls, followed by a 5-1 victory over Lake Erie.

In the first game, Sioux Falls initially led with a score of 2-0 after Meghan Jochimsen's leadoff double and Hanna Raethz's sacrifice fly. Hannah Soderbeck added a solo home run. Wayne State quickly tied the game at 2-2 with Logan Forman scoring on Morgan Williams' first collegiate home run.

Sioux Falls regained the lead with runs from Savanna Isaacson and Alannah Naumann in the second inning and extended it to 7-2 in the third. Wayne State responded with Elly Koopman's three-run homer in the bottom of the third, narrowing the gap to 7-5.

Wayne State continued to fight back, trailing only by one at 8-7 after Mady Ruczynski's two-run double. In the seventh inning, Jessie O'Donnell hit an RBI triple that tied the game at 9-9. A wild pitch allowed Hunter Near to score, giving Wayne State a dramatic victory.

Grace Fisher earned her second win of the season for Wayne State by limiting Sioux Falls to two earned runs over four innings. "Koopman, Ruczynski and Long each had two hits," contributing significantly to Wayne State's offense.

In their second match against Lake Erie, both teams were locked in a pitchers' duel until Wayne State broke through late in the game. Freshman Elly Koopman pitched a complete game for her second collegiate start, allowing just one earned run on two hits over seven innings.

Wayne State took control in the sixth inning when Madison Martinez and Maddie Hool singled before Katelyn DeWitt's single was followed by RBI singles from Koopman and Hunter Near. They extended their lead in the seventh inning with additional runs driven in by Hool and Koopman.

Morgan Williams reached base three times for Wayne State with one hit and two walks. "Maddie Hool and Elly Koopman each had two hits," aiding their team's offensive efforts.

Wayne State will have an off day before facing Glenville State and Indiana (Pa.) on Tuesday as they continue their spring break schedule.