Northwest Wayne News

The Wayne State University softball team concluded its 2025 season with a narrow 2-1 defeat in a 12-inning game against the University of Wisconsin Parkside. This match marked the third-longest game of the NCAA Division 2 season.

Wayne State took the lead early, with freshman Hunter Near scoring in the second inning following a series of fielding errors by the opposition. Despite further scoring opportunities, both teams stood scoreless until the seventh inning, when Mia Johnson, the two-time GLIAC Player of the Year, tied the game for Parkside.

Multiple innings passed with both teams trying but failing to score. Wayne State senior Rylie Josephson and Junior Maddie Hool had key hits but were left on base. Similarly, Parkside's Rylee Baetz and Eden Welling had opportunities but could not convert them into runs.

The decisive moment arrived in the bottom of the 12th inning, when Reese Valha, after advancing in a play disrupted by wind, was driven home by Haley Remington's hit, securing the win for Parkside.

In pitching, Wayne State's Sydney Long delivered a notable performance, pitching 186 times, allowing 13 hits, and striking out nine. Her counterpart Olivia Masnica from Parkside gave up one unearned run on seven hits and struck out three.

Wayne State’s offense was propelled by senior Jessie O'Donnell and contributions from Josephson, Koopman, and DeWitt. Parkside's diverse offensive effort saw five players contributing two hits each in the match.