Wayne State closed out the weekend with a 5-4 win over Fort Hays State to finish a 2-4 weekend in the Hy-Vee Softball Classic in St. Joseph, Mo.
The Wildcats rallied from a 3-1 deficit to avenge an earlier loss to the Tigers and improve to 6-18 on the season, getting things going in the top of the first when Abbie Hix stroked an RBI triple down the right field line, scoring Emily Chandler, who reached on an error.
Fort Hays State scored three in the bottom of the first, but Wayne State came back totie the game in the fourth on a two-run double by Katelyn Wobken, scoring Melanie Alyea and Jordyn Breitbarth.
Fort Hays State got a run in the bottom of the fourth, but Wayne State took the lead for good with two runs in the top of the sixth. Breitbarth had the game-winning hit, as her two-run single brought home Rachel Shumaker and pinch-runner Sarah Hunter.
Nataliah Hopkins got the win in the circle with five innings of work, with Riley Vanderveen shutting the door on the Tigers over the final two innings for her second save of the season. Breitbarth, Wobken and Schumaker each had two hits to highlight a 10-hit Wildcat attack. Hix, Emily Chandler, Blair Shanks and Alyssa Schropp also had hits.
In the first game of the day, 18th ranked Missouri Western posted a 6-1 win over the Wildcats in Sunday morning action.
The Wildcats got a run in the first inning when Hix had an RBI double, scoring Schropp to give the Wildcats the early lead.
Missouri Western scored two runs in the bottom of the inning, then extended their lead while holding the Wildcats to three hits in the final six innings to get the win.
Chandler was 2-for-4 in the losing effort while Hix, Wobken, Schropp and Melanie Alyea added hits. Hopkins was the losing pitcher, with Vanderveen and Allison Niemeier working in relief.
Wayne State's first home game of the season, scheduled for Wednesday against Nebraska-Kearney, has been postponed due to the threat of inclement weather. Their next scheduled home date is a 3 p.m. doubleheader with Augustana on Tuesday, March 28.
