 "Photo: Tyler D. Griffis / The South End")
After suffering a couple tough losses March 31 to Ashland 0-3 and 7-8, the Wayne State softball team was looking to bounce back April 2 in their home opener in a doubleheader against Hillsdale and the following day against Findlay. The team blanked Hillsdale 7-0 and 3-0, then edged out wins over Findlay 3-1 and 7-3.
In game one against Ashland, the Warriors prevailed behind their ace, Casey Hanes.
Hanes pitched a complete game shutout, which was the 48th of her career, and only allowed three hits with nine strikeouts. She said, however, that team wins are more important than individual accolades.
“I didn’t realize it was my 48th shutout,” she said. “I go out there before every game with the same mentality, to help my team win.”
The Warriors got the bats going early and jumped out to a lead in the first inning, with Rebecca Stanley driving in a RBI single scoring Allison Allen. Allen had a big day herself and went 3-4, a home run and four RBI, adding to her strong overall season. Jaci Banton also chipped in with an RBI and two hits.
Coach Gary Bryce said he was pleased to see his team’s bats come alive.
“It’s definitely pleasing to see our offense hit the way they did. And it’s always nice to jump out to an early lead when you have Casey pitching,” Bryce said.
The Warriors scored their final three runs in the sixth.
In game two, the Warriors continued their momentum as they beat Hillsdale once again. Nicole Abel was able to give them a respectable three innings with no runs allowed.
The Warriors once again got off to a good start, scoring in the second inning. In the bottom of the fourth, Hillsdale had back-to-back singles which forced Bryce to make a pitching change and put Hanes in.
“I thought I pitched ok, but I could have done better,” Abel said.
Hanes was able to pitch out of the jam and end the inning. She went on to pitch four scoreless innings to help shutdown Hillsdale. The Warriors were able to score two more runs in the fifth to give Hanes a little breathing room. Bryce was pleased with the way his team was able to bounce back with two gutsy wins for the day.
The Warriors completed their first week of GLIAC play with a strong performance against underdog Findlay. Wayne State rode ace pitcher Hanes who produced a 12-strikeout masterpiece to pick up a relatively slow hitting performance.
The weather’s cooperation came to an end in the second inning of the second game of the double header and the skies opened as the game came to a halt for 20 minutes. Pitcher Sam Cain made it four and 2/3 innings before giving way to Hanes after the WSU lead shrank to two.
“The weather is unfortunate,” Bryce said. “I think it levels the playing field a bit, but I think our girls played well.”
Despite the winds gusting up to 50 mph, the warriors batted in seven to rescue Wayne State pitching that allowed three runs to cross home plate and loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh before recording the final out.
“I think we hit four or five balls that would have been out on any other day,” Bryce said. “But what are you going to do?”
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