Northwest Wayne News

Wayne State University’s softball team is set to commence the second half of its conference schedule with an upcoming doubleheader against Saginaw Valley State University. The games, scheduled for Wednesday at 3 p.m., will take place at SVSU, which currently leads the conference. The Cardinals, with an overall record of 26-8, have played only two home games this season, giving them an extensive home advantage for their remaining 12 out of 14 GLIAC games. The teams come in as the top hitters in the conference, with SVSU and WSU holding batting averages of .303 and .290 respectively.

Historically, Wayne State leads the head-to-head series with a record of 77-58, having split their last doubleheader at Gary L Bryce Field. The Warriors have struggled recently, losing four of the last seven meetings and holding a 3-7 record in their last 10 games played at University Center.

WSU stands out in several GLIAC rankings. It ranks first in both hits and sacrifice bunts, thanks to efforts from players like Sydney Long and Grace Fisher, who have made significant contributions in pitching appearances and innings. Morgan Williams leads in sacrifice bunts per game, while Logan Forman is tied for first in sacrifice flies and ranks second in home runs. WSU’s defense is backed by fielders such as Hunter Near and catcher Molly Hool.

Under the leadership of Coach Nicole Tines, in her fourth season, Wayne State has achieved 18 wins, which is the second-highest in the past six years.

On the opposing side, SVSU dominates many offensive statistics, including on-base percentage, RBI, runs, and slugging percentage. Pitching success is largely due to Macy Irelan and Alana Kimble, with Irelan leading in various categories such as complete games, ERA, and strikeouts, while Kimble leads the league in shutouts.

Following the doubleheader at SVSU, Wayne State will conclude its home GLIAC schedule with games against Roosevelt and Parkside, with Senior Day festivities planned before the Sunday match.