DETROIT, Mich. - An early lead in the opening game of Friday's softball doubleheader was not enough for Lake Superior State to hang on for an upset over Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference front runners Wayne State.
After falling 5-1 in the first contest, the Lakers (4-20, 0-8 GLIAC) looked to avoid a five-inning setback in the second game after scoring their first run of the game in the top of the fifth to cut the lead to 8-1. The Warriors (29-4, 8-0 GLIAC) delivered the walk-off double in the bottom of the fifth inning, however, to go up 9-1 and claim the eight-run advantage necessary to put the game away.
Game 1
Both sides had trouble with getting things started at the plate in Game 1. The Lakers eventually struck first in the bottom of the fourth inning with a double down the left field line by sophomore Teryn Williams. Williams' two-bagger came on the second pitch of the at-bat and scored Kylie Durre to deliver the game's first run.
With her 13th RBI of the season, Williams ranks second on the Lakers behind junior Carly Banchiu (18 RBI) for the team lead.
The Warriors tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI single by Lyndsay Butler to score pinch runner Megan Guitar from third.
LSSU went down in order in the fifth inning and left three runners on base in the bottom of the sixth inning to head into the final frame, still clasping to a tie.
The Warrior bats woke up in the top of seventh, as the conference leaders strung together four runs with two outs in the inning. The scoring began with an infield single by Allie Buchanan to score Ali Lince from third. Lince walked with one out and was advanced to third base on Gabby Williams' one-out double in the next at bat. Next up, Jade McGarr hit a home run down the left field line to give her side the 5-1 advantage.
The Lakers failed to answer in the bottom of the seventh inning, going down in order to end the game.
The Lakers were out-hit 10-4 in the opener, with five of the Warriors hits and all of their runs coming in the fifth and seventh innings.
Game 2
Mackenzie Boehler (W, 9-2) kept LSSU at bay during the second game while pitching five innings allowing just one earned run on two hits and a walk. Boehler also struck out 9 Lakers during the 9-1 route.
The Warriors opened the scoring with three runs in the second inning and later added five more in the bottom of the fourth to go up 8-0.
Staring the prospects of a shortened five-inning game due to the eight run mercy rule, the Lakers finally got on the board in the top of the fifth inning. With one out, catcher Katie Martin delivered her eighth RBI of the season on an infield single to plate Katey Hendershott for the first run of the game for LSSU.
WSU got a two-out double from Kristen Lucas in the bottom half of the frame, which scored Jamie MacNeil for the walk-off run from first base. WSU claimed Game 2 by a score of 9-1 after out-hitting the Lakers 12-2.