Game 1: Wayne State 4 Upper Iowa 0
Game 2: Wayne State 8 Upper Iowa 0
Juniors Katie Goetzinger and Amber Baird each pitched complete game shutouts in a two game sweep of Upper Iowa Wednesday afternoon at the Pete Chapman Softball Complex in Wayne. Goetzinger pitched seven innings striking out 10 batters in the Wildcats 4-0 victory in game one. Baird gave up five hits and struck out two in six innings in the Wildcats 8-0 win in game two. The wins make the Wildcats 23-7 overall and 8-2 in the NSIC. The losses drop the Peacocks to 10-12 overall and 5-7 in the NSIC.
The Wildcats jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning of game one when Junior Sam Earleywine drove in senior Amy Sandstrom from third base. WSC added to their lead in the fourth inning when Jennifer Radley doubled scoring Aerielle Earleywine from second. Radley scored later in the inning when Sandstrom knocked a single into left field to give Wayne State a 3-0 lead. The Wildcats added another run in the sixth when pinch runner Brooke Vollmer scored on another RBI single by Sandstrom to give the Wildcats a 4-0 lead and the win.
Goetzinger (15-5) struck out 10 in seven innings of work as the junior from Harlan, Iowa pitched her way to her 10th complete game of the season. Goetzinger only allowed five hits on the afternoon and did not walk a single Peacock batter.
Sandstrom led the way offensively for WSC as the senior went 3 for 4 with two RBI's. Sam Earleywine was 2 for 2 for Wayne State. Earleywine added one RBI in the game. Radley was 1 for 2 with a walk on the day, Radley also drove in a run for WSC.
The Wildcat's bats were on fire in the first inning of game two as WSC scored five runs in the inning. The inning was highlighted by a pair of doubles by Hannah Engelkamp and Blaire Kuhl. Both doubles drove in a run to get Wayne State off to a hot start. Kassie Nurton knock in two runs on an RBI single to give the Wildcats the 5-0 lead after one inning of play.
Wayne State once again waited until the fourth inning to add to their lead as another pair of double this time by Sam Earleywine and Kuhl did the damage in the inning as two juniors each drove in a run to give WSC a 7-0 lead. Wayne State added a run in the sixth inning when Engelkamp scored from second base on an RBI single by Sam Earleywine to give the Wildcats an 8-0 win in six innings.
Baird pitched six strong innings allowing five hits and striking out two batters. Sam Earleywine continued to feast on Upper Iowa pitching going 3 for 4 with two RBI's and two runs scored. Kuhl went 2 for 3 with two RBI's in her debut in the five spot for the Wildcats. Nurton add two hits and two RBI's for Wayne State.
Wayne State will be in action this weekend when they head to Mary and Northern State with double headers slated to start at 12:00 p.m. on both days. WSC will then head to Omaha to face UNO on Tuesday before returning home Wednesday when they host Minnesota State in a key NSIC double header.
