The Wayne State softball team dropped their season-opening games Friday, losing two in the Alvy Early Memorial Tournament in Bentonville, Ark.
In the opener, Missouri-St. Louis hit a two-run, two-out walk off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to hand the Wayne State softball team a heart-breaking 9-7 loss.
Wayne State got off to a quick start, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning to chase the UMSL starting pitcher. Natalie Arbizu had an RBI double in the inning for the Wildcats followed by run-scoring singles from Riley Holmberg and Paiton Tornberg.
The Tritons scored one run in the first and two in the second to cut the Wildcat lead to 4-3.
The Wildcats plated two runs in the fourth on a two-run double by Mary Krystofiak, scoring Holmberg and Arbizu, to give Wayne State a 6-3 lead.
Missouri-St. Louis produced four runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-6 lead.
WSC evened the score at 7-7 in the top of the fifth on a two-out rally when Krystofiak singled with pinch-runner Abby Husing crossing the plate on a double by pinch-hitter Hayley Murphy.
The score remained 7-7 until the bottom of the seventh when the Tritons got a walk-off, two run homer to post the 9-7 victory.
Holmberg paced WSC at the plate going 3-for-4 with three singles. Krystofiak was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI while Arbizu and Murphy also doubled. Kortney Buresh, Jenna Etmans and Tornberg each singled.
Hadley Chvatal worked the first 3 1/3 innings for WSC in the circle and was charged with seven runs (four earned) on six hits with five walks and four strikeouts. Freshman Grace Lucka fired the remaining 3 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on five hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
Despite out-hitting Drury 8-6 in the second game, the Wayne State softball team dropped a 6-3 decision to the Panthers.
Drury opened the scoring with one run in the top of the second and three more in the third for a 4-0 lead.
WSC got one run back in the bottom of the third as Hayley Murphy walked and scored on an RBI groundout from Riley Holmberg to cut the Panther advantage to 4-1.
The Panthers used single runs in the fourth and sixth innings to secure a 6-1 lead on the Wildcats.
Wayne State plated one run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by Paiton Tornberg that brought home pinch runner Abby Husing after Jenna Etmans led off the frame with a single.
The ‘Cats scored their final run of the game in the bottom of the seventh when Lauren Laudick reached on a passed ball third strike and later scored.
Buresh went 3-for-4 at the plate with three singles to lead WSC followed by Kamryn Sparks going 2-for-4 with a pair of singles. Etmans and Michaela Smith also singled for the ‘Cats.
Three pitchers saw action in the circle for WSC. Chvatal worked 2 1/3 innings and suffered the loss. Freshman Sami Felt pitched 3 2/3 innings of relief while sophomore Callie Carraher worked a perfect final inning.
Wayne State will play two more games Saturday at the Alvy Early Memorial Tournament in Arkansas battling Harding (Ark.) at 11 a.m. and Southeastern Oklahoma State in a 1 p.m. contest.
