For the last month, the AU softball team has been consistent in all phases of the game. Run production, run prevention, steady pitching, the Eagles had it all.
Sunday (Apr. 21) in Detroit, the Eagles, ranked fifth in the latest NCAA Division II Midwest Region rankings, lost their way thanks in large part to Wayne State. The Warriors swept the Eagles, 2-1 and 8-5. AU took a six-game winning streak to Detroit and before the sweep, had won 10 of its last 11 games.
The Eagles are 20-15, 13-5 in the GLIAC. This marks the first time AU has lost two consecutive games since dropping both ends of a doubleheader against Grand Valley State on Mar. 24.
Wayne State is 22-17, 13-6 in conference play.
WSU's Briana Lee and Amanda Burnard tormented the Eagles all afternoon. Lee picked up a win and a save. Burnard never stopped hitting.
In the first game, Lee handcuffed the Eagles over seven innings. She allowed a run, which was unearned, on five hits. She walked three and struck out six. Lee (7-12) got the win when the Warriors broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Jade McGarr opened the sixth with a single and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt. Moments later, she raced home on a single by Burnard. Burnard was 2-for-3 in the game.
The loss went to Amber McDermott (Creston, Ohio/Norwayne). The sophomore pitched a complete game and allowed two runs on nine hits. McDermott (7-4), walked one and struck out one. McDermott had won seven consecutive decisions entering Sunday's game.
In the nightcap, Ashland had a 2-0 lead after three innings. WSU wiped that out with three runs in the fourth inning and broke open the game with five runs in the fourth. The Warriors ended the game with 10 hits. Burnard was 3-for-3 with a double and four RBI.
Left fielder Carly West (Ashland, Ohio/Hillsdale) was 2-for-3 and shortstop Jamie Weber (Orient, Ohio/Teays Valley) was 2-for-2. Jerrica Young (Loudonville, Ohio) went 1-for-3 and drove in two runs. Weber and Young both doubled.
Sophomore lefty Sarah Alley (Milford, Ohio) took the loss. She went 4.1 innings and allowed eight runs (six earned) on nine hits. Alley (10-6) was relieved by Zoe Myers (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) who didn't allow a run in 2.2 innings.
AU
SOFT/ALK