DETROIT -- In the final two home games of Wayne State University head softball coach Gary Bryce's illustrious 40-year career at WSU, the Warriors edged Ferris State University (15-16 overall, 7-23 GLIAC) 2-1 in the opener, then claimed a 13-5 triumph in six innings in the nightcap.  The two victories improved Wayne State's record to 20-18 overall and 13-17 in the GLIAC.  Bryce has won at least 20 games in all 39 seasons that were played to completion (i.e. the 2020 COVID season WSU had a 10-5 record before the shutdown).

GAME ONE RECAP
The Warriors scored twice in the bottom of the first after escaping the top of the first unscathed.  FSU had the first two batters reach on a single and an error, but a fielder's choice, a pop out and a strikeout ended the Bulldog threat.  Meanwhile, in the bottom of the frame, senior second baseman Rainey Psenicka (Guelph, Ont.) had a leadoff double and went to third on a ground out.  Sophomore Brooke Nadolny (Clinton Twp., Mich. / L'Anse Creuse) had an RBI single through the left side scoring Psenicka with the game's first run.  Nadolny went to third on an Ferris State miscue and scored on an RBI single by junior Avieri Ludwig (Chesterfield, Mich. / Anchor Bay).

Wayne State had a chance to extend its lead in the third as senior Brooke Turkalj (St. Jacobs, Ont.) had a one-out double but the next two batters were retired.  A similar scenario in the fifth as Nadolny had a one-out double by hustling on a blooper but was unable to advance.

Nadolny had retired 17 of 20 batters after the first two Bulldogs reached in the top of the first, until Evelyn Blood hit a pinch-hit home run with two outs in the sixth.

IN THE CIRCLE
Nadolny improved to 5-4 by limiting the Bulldogs to one earned run on seven hits in seven innings.  She struck out eight and did not walk a batter.

Aryn Gallacher (4-9) went the distance for FSU allowing two earned runs on seven hits in six innings.  She struck out three and did not walk a batter.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Nadolny had two hits, an RBI and a run scored.

LEADING THE BULLDOGS
Kodi Ramirez went 3-for-4, while Blood had a pinch-hit home run.

GAME TWO RECAP
Wayne State set season-highs in runs (13) and hits (15), while Nadolny had a season-best four hits.

In coach Bryce's final home game on a field named in his honor, the Bulldogs tried to spoil the party early in the contest.  Ferris State's Justice Ruggles smacked a two-run home run with two outs in the top of the first following a double by Kaitlyn Orme.

The Warriors responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning.  Psenicka started the frame with a single and senior shortstop Bryanna Kressler laced one up the middle off the pitcher for an infield hit.  After a sacrifice bunt by Nadolny, Turkalj reached as no out was recorded on a grounder to short.  Senior Amy Claydon (Cambridge, Ont.) drove in two runs on the very next pitch with a single through the left side.

After a 1-2-3 top of the second, WSU sent eight batters to the dish in the second.  After a ground out, freshman Shelby Miller (Georgetown, Ont.) had an infield single in the hole at short.  Psenicka walked and Kressler followed with an RBI single to snap the 2-2 deadlock.  Nadolny smacked a two-run double to left center prompting a pitching change.  Nadolny scored on an error to make it 6-2.

FSU scored once in the third on a two-out double by Paige Kortz and an RBI single by Orme, then pulled within 6-5 with two runs in the fourth.  A walk to Blood and a fielder's choice, preceded a single by Kacey Bouche.  A slow dribbler ground out advanced both runners and Kaitlyn Fick produced a two-run single down the right field line.

Wayne State answered back with five runs in the bottom of the fourth.  Kressler worked a six-pitch walk before Nadolny's second double of the contest and a slide by Kressler during a mini rundown made it 7-5.  Turkalj had an RBI single to start a stretch of four consecutive singles by the Warriors.  Claydon singled and Ludwig contributed an RBI single in which pinch-runner Gabby Kaple (Galion, Ohio) went to third.  Another FSU pitching change to ambixdeterous hurler Kylie Masko was greeted with an RBI single by senior first baseman Emma Adams (Rockwood, Ont.).  WSU's 11th run scored on a wild pitch.

Ferris State had a leadoff double in the fifth by Kortz but she did not advance.

The Warriors had the first four batters in the fifth reach base as Kressler walked, Nadolny singled and Turkalj walked to load the bases.  Junior Paige Ameel (Marysville, Mich.) had an RBI single to make it 12-5.

Wayne State ended the game in the bottom of the sixth as Miller reached on a one-out error, went to second on a walk to Psenicka.  With two outs, Nadolny singled to right to make it 13-5.

IN THE CIRCLE
Claydon (6-3) allowed five earned runs in six innings to notch the victory .  She struck out one and walked one, while allowing six hits.  Ameel retired six of the seven batters she faced, including three on strikes.

Kaitlyn Nugent (3-7) started on the mound for FSU and surrendered six earned runs on six hits in 1.1 innings, with zero strikeouts and one walk.  Kristie Gray pitched 1.2 innings and allowed five earned runs on five hits with one strikeout and one walk.  Masko hurled the final 2.2 innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits with one strikeout and three walks.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Nadolny went 4-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Kressler went 2-for-3 with two walks and four runs scored.  Claydon contributed two hits and two runs scored.

LEADING THE BULLDOGS
Kortz and Orme each had two hits, with both Ruggles and Fick driving in two runs.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will conclude the regular season with a doubleheader at Purdue Northwest on Saturday before beginning GLIAC Tournament play next Tuesday (May 11th) at either 10 AM or 2 PM.