The Wayne State softball team lost two games on Saturday during the first day of the Hy-Vee Classic in St. Joseph, Mo.
In the opener, Missouri Western erupted for 10 runs in the first inning as the Griffons rolled to an 18-2 win.
The host Griffons jumped out quickly, taking a 10-0 lead in the first on just four hits while taking advantage of two Wildcat errors and five walks.
Wayne State scored both of its runs in the second inning as Baylee Rial was hit by a pitch and scored on a Jordyn Breitbarth sacrifice fly followed by a Katelyn Wobken RBI single that brought home Ashley Hernandez.
Missouri Western added two runs in the second, five more in the third and one in the fourth to complete the win.
Wayne State had six hits in the contest, led by Emily Chandler and Breitbarth each with a double. Wobken, Morgan Vasa, Alyx Hagen and Raquel Penke each singled.
Junior Riley Vanderveen (3-5) suffered the pitching loss working two innings while freshman Maddie Moser also worked two innings in relief.
In the second game, Washburn University held Wayne State to just five hits in a 6-3 decision.
Washburn built a 5-0 lead with single runs in the first and third innings followed by a three-run top of the fifth.
Wayne State (6-11) scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the fifth on Hagen’s three-run homer to center field, scoring Wobken and Chandler .
Washburn scored its final run in the top of the seventh. Wayne State mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh and had the tying run at the plate, but the Wildcats ended the game with a double play as Washburn held on for the win.
Washburn held an 11-5 edge in hits over the Wildcats. Wobken was 2-for-4 with a pair of singles while Hagen blasted a three-run homer. Baylee Rial and Chandler each singled.
Wayne State will play two more games in the Hy-Vee Classic on Sunday in Maryville, Mo., battling Northwest Missouri State at 9 a.m. and Central Missouri in a 3 p.m. contest.
