Four Wildcats recorded at least two hits to highlight a 14-hit attack as Wayne State defeated Ferris State of Michigan 7-1 Monday afternoon at the National Training Center Spring Games Softball Tournament in Auburndale, Florida. WSC is now 6-12 following the win while the Bulldogs drop to 5-8.
The Wildcats got off to a hot start in the top of the first inning. Kortney Buresh and Kim Vidlak led off with back-to-back singles. Ashley Hernandez hit a three-run homer to score both Buresh and Vidlak to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.
In the top of the third, Hernandez hit a single to give WSC their first runner of the inning. Hernandez later scored on a single by Michaela Smith to put the Cats up by four. Clare Reinhart reached on an error by the shortstop. Natalie Arbizu replaced Reinhart as a pinch runner and stole second to get in scoring position and scored on a left field single from Molli Vasa to extend the lead 5-0. Smith singled to score Hernandez. Kamryn Sparks reached on a walk and Riley Holmberg collected an RBI single that scored Holmberg to put the Cats up by seven.
Ferris State scored one run off two hits to shorten the lead by six runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Wayne State held the Bulldogs to one run through the remainder of the contest to take a 7-1 win over Ferris State.
WSC outhit Ferris State 14-5. Hernadez went 2 for 3 with a three-run homer and two runs scored. Molli Vasa had three hits and an RBI. Vidlak collected three hits and scored once. Sparks added two hits and one run scored.
Hadley Chvatal (3-2) recorded the pitching win for the Wildcats giving up one run on four hits over four innings. Sloan Cooksey pitched three scoreless innings and allowed only one hit to earn a save.
Junior starter Maddie Moser allowed just four hits over four innings with seven strikeouts while sophomore outfielder Kortney Buresh went 3 for 3 with a pair of triples and a double to power Wayne State College in an 11-3 victory over Edinboro (Pa.) Monday afternoon at the National Training Center Spring Softball Games played in Auburndale, Florida. WSC improves to 7-12 while Edinboro falls to 0-4.
The Wildcats jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning as Buresh started the contest with a triple to left field and scored on a ground out by Kim Vidlak for the initial run. Junior third baseman Ashley Hernandez followed with a solo homer to right field putting the Cats in front two runs early.
WSC added to their lead in the third when Vidlak reached base on a fielders choice, stole second and third bases and scored on an Edinboro throwing error for a 3-0 lead.
The Fighting Scots battled back in the top of the fourth inning, scoring all three of their runs with three of their four hits in the contest, to even the score at 3-3.
Wayne State regained the momentum and took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth as Kamryn Sparks singled and came home on a two-run homer from Molli Vasa giving the Wildcats a 5-3 lead.
The Wildcats erupted for six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to put the game out of reach. WSC took advantage of three Edinboro errors and three walks combined with a couple of big hits to finish with the 11-3 win. Big hits in the inning were a two-run double from Buresh and an RBI single from Riley Holmberg.
Wayne State finished the game with a 9-4 advantage in hits over Edinboro. Buresh led the Wildcat hit barrage going 3 for 3 with a pair of triples, one double and two runs scored. Vasa homered and scored twice while Hernandez added a home run with a pair of walks and two runs scored.
Moser fired four impressive innings to earn the win in the circle, now 3-2 on the season. The junior allowed just four hits and three runs with seven strikeouts. Freshman Sloan Cooksey worked a perfect fifth inning in relief with one strikeout to earn the save.
Wayne State is off on Tuesday and will resume play at the NTC Spring Games in Florida Wednesday with games against Slippery Rock (Pa.) at 9 a.m. and Urbana (Ohio) at 11:15 a.m.
