After securing their first NSIC Tournament win since 2015 in walk-off fashion, the Wayne State College softball team was right back in an extra inning battle during postseason play on May 1.
Back at Bowden Field in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the eighth-seeded Wildcats competed against the #2 seed Minnesota State-Mankato.
In extras, Minnesota State-Mankato used their own walk-off to win 5-4 in 10 innings. WSC ended their season at 31-24 while the Mavericks improved to 38-17.
Neither team scored in the opening inning before Minnesota State-Mankato brought in a run during the home half of the first inning.
Following a scoreless third, Wayne State College answered with a single run in the top of the fourth to tie the game up at 1-1. Sophomore Emilee Marth used a solo homerun to put the ‘Cats on the board.
After both teams were scoreless innings the next three innings, the Wildcats took advantage with a three-run top of the eighth. Freshman Maddie Scobee posted a two-RBI single driving in both redshirt freshman Kennadi Borngrebe and Marth before redshirt senior Mary Krystofiak drove in Scobee.
But the Mavericks answered with their own three runs a half of an inning later.
Following a scoreless ninth, Minnesota State-Mankato would plate the game winning run in the home half of the 10th.
Final favored the Mavericks winning 5-4 in 10 innings despite being outhit, 11-9. Wayne State College committed the lone three errors.
Kennadi Borngrebe singled, doubled twice and scored; Maddie Scobee singled, drove in two runs and scored as Emilee Marth posted a solo homerun and scored two total runs.
Borngrebe (60 pitches) suffered the loss in two and a third innings of relief allowing an earned run off three hits while striking out two batters, walking two and hitting one.
Coleman (38) started the game in two innings allowing an earned run off two hits while striking out three batters and hitting one. Senior Samantha Felt (79) worked five innings allowing three earned runs off four hits while striking out and walking three batters each.
The WSC softball team recorded 30+ wins for the first time since 2015 (34-21/18-12 NSIC) and made an appearance in the NSIC Tournament for the first time in three years.
