Release courtesy of the WSU Sports Information Department
Findlay, Ohio -- The Wayne State University
softball team (34-20) earned the 2012 GLIAC Tournament title with
its fourth consecutive one-run victory edging Ferris State
University (31-24) 3-2 on Sunday morning at the Marathon Diamonds
complex in Findlay, Ohio.
WSU began play on Sunday needing just one win against the Bulldogs
to claim the tournament championship after being victorious in
yesterday's winner's bracket final (7-6) over FSU. Ferris
reached the championship round by blanking Grand Valley, 2-0,
Saturday afternoon, but needing two wins over the Warriors on
Sunday in the double-elimination format.
Sunday's contest did not start promising for Wayne State as FSU
leadoff batter Makenzi Peterson hit the fifth pitch of the game
over the right field fence. However, WSU starter Sam
Cain (Taylor, Mich. / Kennedy) settled down and retired
11 of the next 13 Bulldog batters, until a two-out hit by pitch in
the fourth. FSU's Stephanie Dusendang then singled, but Cain
recorded a fly out to end the inning.
Meanwhile, Bulldog starter Dana Bowler (16-11) allowed a leadoff
walk in the first to sophomore second baseman Nikki
Fulton (Stratford, Ont. / St. Michael Catholic S.S.), and
then junior right fielder Stephanie
Foreman (Cambridge, Ont. / Preston) worked a leadoff walk
in the second by fouling off three consecutive 3-2 pitches for a
nine-pitch at bat. Sophomore Julie
Ingratta (Markham, Ont.) followed Foreman's free pass
with a single to left on an 0-2 offering. Freshman center
fielder Shannon
Hilton (Gilford, Ont. / Bradford) advanced both runners
with a sacrifice bunt and, with two outs, senior shortstop Lauren
Histed (Shelby Twp., Mich. / Utica) delivered a two-run
single through the right side putting WSU ahead 2-1.
The Warriors added to their lead in the third as senior first
baseman Rebecca
Ryan (Westland, Mich. / Dearborn Divine Child) singled
with one out. Foreman followed with a base hit advancing
pinch-runner Makelle
Barski (Trenton, Mich.) to second. A fielder's
choice erased Barski at third, but Hilton's base hit was stopped by
the FSU second baseman who didn't have a play at first, but bobbled
the ball allowing Foreman to score from second on the play with
what would be the eventual game-winning run.
The Bulldogs went 1-2-3 in the fifth but Amy Dunleavy led off the
sixth with home run to left field cutting the WSU lead to
3-2. Chelsea Morris then doubled and pinch-runner Brittney
Buti went to third on a sacrifice bunt setting up a key moment in
the contest. FSU's Lindsey Petit hit a ground ball to short,
where Histed realized Buti was off the bag at third and threw
behind her and she was eventually tagged out at the plate.
Meanwhile, Petit tried to advance to second but a strong throw by
Warrior catcher Emily
Bryce (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester Adams) to
Fulton completed the unusual 6524 double play.
Ferris State went 1-2-3 in the seventh as Histed went into the
hole at short with Ryan making a nice scoop at first on the game's
final out.
Wayne State held an 8-5 edge in hits with Hilton going 2-for-2
plus a key sacrifice, and sophomore left fielder Logan
White (Brantford, Ont. / Johnson C.V.I.) going
2-for-4.
Dunleavy had two hits for the Bulldogs.
Cain improved to 22-10 allowing two earned runs with five
strikeouts and one walk. Bowler struck out three and walked
four while surrendering three runs (two earned) on eight hits in
six innings of work.
Wayne State will learn of its tournament seed during the NCAA
selection show on Monday, which can be watched on NCAA.com at 10
a.m. Click
here for a link to the NCAA Division II Softball Home Page on
NCAA.com.