Detroit, Mich. — Sophomore Leah Ondrovick (Tecumseh) hit a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the fourth inning to give the Wayne State softball team (12-11 overall) a 11-5 victory over Mercyhurst in the GLIAC opener on Friday, March 29 at the WSU Softball Field.

The game was shortened to four innings due to heavy rains. Mercyhurst batted in the top of the fifth inning and WSU was batting in the bottom of the fifth before play was called, therefore, no statistics were recorded for that inning. The second game of the doubleheader was also postponed. No makeup games have been scheduled.

In game one, the Warriors opened up scoring in the first inning as senior Kelly Kashmerick (Flushing) led off the game with a double and scored on a double by sophomore Beth Berry (Blissfield) to give WSU a 1-0 lead. Mercyhurst would respond with a run in the top of the second, however, the Warriors would score four runs in the bottom of the second as Berry hit a two-run double to give WSU a 5-1 advantage.

The Lakers got back into the game by scoring three runs in the third and one in top of the fourth to tie the game at five. In the fourth inning, with one out in WSU’s at bat freshman Jenna McWilliams (Tecumseh) drew a walk, which was followed by a Mercyhurst pitching change (Tamara Snyder for Jessica Taylor). After a strikeout by Kashmerick, a wild pitch by Snyder, and two straight walks to junior Betsy Kirk (Etobicoke, Ontario) and Berry, Ondrovick hit her grand slam over the left-center fence, ensuring the win for WSU.

Ondrovick hit 1 for 3 for the game with four RBI, while Berry went 2 for 2 with three RBI. Freshman Lisa Gauthier (Burton/Kearsely) relieved starter Amy Thiede and pitched two innings for the win (4-2).