Wayne State used the long ball to sweep Minnesota Crookston Sunday afternoon in Northern Sun Conference softball action at the Chapman Complex, winning 11-0 and 7-3.
The Wildcats got on the board in the first inning of the opener on an Emily Chandler single, scoring Morgan Vasa after she reached on a bunt single, then erupted for five runs on six hits in the fourth inning to take control of the game.
Taylor Menard led off the big inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice by Annie Grammar. Jordyn Breitbarth walked and Katelyn Wobken singled to load the bases. Baylee Rial followed with a two-run single, Chandler and Rachel Shumaker added RBI singles and Abbie Hix knocked in the final run of the inning with a double to make it 6-0.
In the fifth, Wayne State’s bats continued to pound on Golden Eagle pitching. Grammar hit a solo homer to start the inning and Ashley Hernandez ended the inning and the game with a grand slam home to left to give the Wildcats the win.
Breitbarth and Chandler both had two hits to lead the Wildcats’ 14-hit attack. Maddie Mosier gave up two hits and struck out two in five innings to get the win.
In the second game, the Wildcats broke a scoreless tie in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Hix, scoring Chandler.
Crookston scored three runs, all with two outs, to take the lead in the sixth, but the Wildcats responded with six runs in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by a three-run homer by Breitbarth to give the Wildcats the lead and go on to the doubleheader sweep.
Chandler had three hits and scored twice to lead the Wildcats while Breitbarth had two hits and three RBI’s. Alyx Hagen also had two hits and Mosier got her second win of the day in relief of Riley Vanderveen, who struck out seven and allowed seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.
The Wildcats (13-24, 7-11 NSIC) play their final home doubleheader of the season Monday, hosting Bemidji State at 12 p.m. at the Chapman Complex.
