Saturday, March 28, 2009
Game 1 - Wayne State 7 Minnesota, Crookston 1
Game 2 - Wayne State 8 Minnesota, Crookston 0 6 inn.
The Wayne State College softball team opened Northern Sun Conference play Saturday by posting a pair of no-hit wins over Minnesota, Crookston at the Pete Chapman Softball Complex in Wayne. Three Wildcat pitchers – Katie Goetzinger, Brooke Vollmer and Amber Baird – teamed up to no-hit UMC in a 7-1 win in the first game and then Goetzinger recorded a perfect game in the second contest with nine strikeouts to no-hit the Golden Eagles in a 8-0 six inning win. Wayne State is now 17-11 overall and 2-0 in the NSIC while Minnesota, Crookston drops to 0-10 overall and 0-2 in league play.
In the first game, Wayne State used a five-run third inning, taking advantage of three UMC errors, to cruise in a 7-1 win over Minnesota, Crookston. Junior center fielder Amy Sandstrom was 3 for 4 with two runs scored to lead Wayne State in hitting. Blaire Kuhl, Hannah Engelkamp, Liz Hullinger and Katie Goetzinger also singled for the Wildcats in the win.
On the mound, Goetzinger worked the first four innings and notched 10 strikeouts but had to leave after fouling a pitch off her ankle and suffering an apparent ankle injury. Brooke Vollmer then worked the fifth and part of the sixth inning, but struggled with her control allowing three walks, which led to UMC’s run. Amber Baird then finished the game, striking out two batters in the final two innings of work.
The second game saw Goetzinger return with a bad ankle and pitch a perfect game, her second of the season, to lift Wayne State in the 8-0 win over the Golden Eagles. Goetzinger had nine strikeouts in facing 18 batters to seal the no-hitter and perfect game.
Offensively, the Wildcats improved hitting the ball in the second game with 14 hits. Five players had two hits for the Wildcats led by Amy Sandstrom, who homered and tripled in going 2 for 4 at the plate with two runs scored. Sam Earleywine was 2 for 4 with three RBI’s and a double while Amber Baird was 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored. Jennifer Radley and Hannah Engelkamp each produced two singles to round out a balanced hitting attack for WSC.
Wayne State resumes play on Wednesday when the Wildcats travel to #13 Winona State for a Northern Sun Conference doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. in Winona, Minnesota.