#4 Metro State 2 #17 Wayne State 1
Metro State's Jennessa Tesone hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the #4 Roadrunners a 2-1 win over #17 Wayne State in the opening game of the NCAA Division II Super Regional Softball Tournament held at Metro State's Auraria Field in Denver, Colorado. Metro State is now 50-4 on the season with Wayne State 43-13 entering Saturday's second game of the best of three series starting at 1:00 p.m. Central Time.
The game was a pitcher's duel between two of the top pitchers in the Central Region, Katie Goetzinger of Wayne State and Christie Robinson of Metro State. Wayne State had the game's first scoring chance in the fourth inning as Blaire Kuhl opened the inning with a bunt single in front of the catcher. Sam Earleywine's sacrifice bunt moved to Kuhl to second. Jennifer Radley then walked and the two runners advanced to second and third respectively on Hannah Engelkamp's ground out to shortstop. But Katie Goetzinger lined out to right field to end the inning as WSC left two runners in scoring position.
Meanwhile, Wildcat pitcher Katie Goetzinger was settling into a groove and retired 11 straight batters from the third inning through the sixth inning to keep the Wildcats in the game.
Wayne State snapped the scoreless tie in the sixth inning scoring one run on four hits. Kassie Nurton led off the inning with an infield single deep in the hole at shortstop. Kuhl then beat out a slow roller to Metro State shortstop Amber Roundtree to give WSC runners at first and second with no one out. Sam Earleywine then grounded into a double play, sending Nurton to third on the play. First baseman Jennifer Radley then came through with a one-hop line drive off the right center field fence for a single, scoring Nurton to give WSC a 1-0 lead. Hannah Engelkamp then followed with another single to right field, putting runners at first and second with two outs. But Metro State pitcher Christie Robinson got Katie Goetzinger to pop up to third base to end the inning.
The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the seventh inning. Goetzinger, who had retired 11 straight batters entering the seventh inning, allowed a lead off walk to cleanup hitter Tara Mickelson following a 10-pitch at bat. The next batter, left fielder Jennesse Tesone, followed with a home run over the center field fence on a 2-2 count to give the host Raodrunners the dramatic 2-1 win over the Wildcats.
“It was a very good game…a pitcher's dual…that's what you expect at Super Regionals,” remarked WSC head coach Krista Unger following the game. “They came up with the big hit and that was the difference.” Asked about her team's hitting, Unger said, “I thought we did a great job hitting, we had seven hits and they had three. We were hitting the ball hard and right at people and they (Metro State) also made some great plays.”
Wayne State had seven hits in the game to just three by Metro State. Freshman designated player Kassie Nurton was 2 for 3 at the plate with a run scored while junior second baseman Blaire Kuhl was also 2 for 3. Jennifer Radley, Hannah Engelkamp and Brittany Greenwood each singled to round out Wayne State's seven hits. Metro State had singles by Kellie Nishikida (first inning) and Amber Roundtree (third inning) along with Jennesse Tesone's game-winning homer in the seventh inning.
The winning pitcher was Metro State's Christie Robinson, who improved to 27-2 with the win. She pitched all seven innings for the Roadrunners, allowing seven hits and one run with two strikeouts and one walk. Wayne State's Katie Goetzinger (32-9) suffered the loss, allowing just three hits and two runs over six innings with eight strikeouts and two walks.
Wayne State will face Metro State in the second game of the best of three series on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Central Time. The Wildcats must win to force the third game of the series later Saturday afternoon in Denver.
