Saturday, April 25, 2009

Game 1 - Concordia, St. Paul 3 Wayne State 0

Game 2 - Wayne State 5 Concordia, St. Paul 2

            Wayne State and Concordia, St. Paul split a Northern Sun Conference softball doubleheader Saturday in Wayne in a matchup of the second and third place teams in the NSIC.  The visiting Golden Bears got a one-hit shutout from Stephanie Schmikla to win the first game 3-0 but WSC came back to win the second game 5-2 thanks to a 3 for 3 day by freshman first baseman Alyssa Kirsch.  WSC, now tied with Augustana for second in the NSIC at 16-5 in the league, is 33-16 overall while Concordia, St. Paul is now fourth in the NSIC at 15-5 in league play and 33-17 overall.

            The first game was dominated by Concordia starting pitcher Stephanie Schmikla, who allowed just a fifth inning single to Wildcat catcher Sam Earleywine for the only hit of the game.  Schmikla struck out three batters and got WSC hitters to fly out 14 times.  CU scored all three of its runs on homers off WSC starter Katie Goetzinger.  Nikki Scherr hit a two run homer in the fifth and Jamie Lindboe added a solo shot in the sixth.

            WSC was out hit in the first game 6-1.  Goetzinger (23-10) allowed three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts in the loss for the Wildcats.

            The second game saw freshman first baseman Alyssa Kirsch go 3 for 3 with a double and two RBI's to spark the Wildcats in a 5-2 win over the Golden Bears.  With WSC trailing 1-0 in the second inning, the 'Cats took advantage of a Concordia error to score two unearned runs on Amy Sandstrom's two-run single that scored Amber Baird and Alyssa Kirsch to give WSC a 2-1 lead. In the third inning, Blaire Kuhl walked, advanced to second on Earleywine's single, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Brittany Greenwood's sacrifice fly to center for a 3-1 advantage.

            After CU cut the lead to 3-2 in the fourth inning, WSC scored two runs in the fifth for a 5-2 lead.  Earleywine singled and Greenwood singled with Kirsch producing a key two-run single down the right field line to highlight the two-run, three hit inning as WSC salvaged a split with a 5-2 win.

            WSC had 10 hits in the second game to five for Concordia, St. Paul.  Kirsch's 3 for 3 day led the 'Cats at the plate while Earleywine and Blaire Kuhl each added two hits in the win.

            Amber Baird (10-6) worked the first four innings to get the win, allowing two runs on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks.  Goetzinger was stellar in the final three innings in relief, giving up just one hit with five strikeouts to notch her fourth save of the season.

             Wayne State will be at home again on Sunday, hosting St. Cloud State in a doubleheader starting at noon at the Pete Chapman Complex.