Northwest Wayne News

Wayne State University's softball team concluded its regular-season on Sunday with two losses to Purdue Northwest in Hammond, Indiana. The first game ended with a 7-5 defeat for the Warriors, and the second game was a 12-4 loss.

In the first game, Wayne State took an early lead with back-to-back doubles but fell behind in the third inning after Olivia Hernandez's two-run double for Purdue Northwest. Despite tying the score at 2-2, Purdue Northwest scored five more times in the fourth inning to secure the win. Wayne State managed to cut the deficit with runs in the fifth and sixth innings, but it wasn't enough to overcome the host team.

Wayne State's junior pitcher Hayden Batton pitched six innings, allowing seven earned runs on 11 hits. Purdue Northwest’s Rylan Gick pitched six innings, giving up five runs, three of which were earned.

Purdue Northwest started the second game strongly, scoring six times in the first inning. Hernandez and Hannah Rafferty-Flatter both hit two-run doubles to build the early lead. Wayne State responded with runs in the third inning, but Purdue Northwest continued to extend their lead. The game was called after five innings with Purdue Northwest ahead 12-4.

Grace Fisher from Wayne State allowed six runs in the first inning while Elly Koopman pitched the remaining innings, allowing six runs on nine hits. Rafferty-Flatter pitched all five innings for Purdue Northwest, limiting Wayne State to four earned runs on seven hits.

Molly Hool of Wayne State had two hits and four RBIs in the second game, while Purdue Northwest's Dugan and Hernandez excelled with multiple hits and runs each.

Wayne State is set to compete in the 2025 GLIAC Tournament as the No. 5 seed and will face Parkside on Thursday. The tournament will take place at The Stadium at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Illinois.