(Denver, CO) The 17th-ranked Wayne State College softball team was eliminated from the NCAA Division II Central Super Regional Saturday afternoon in Denver, Colorado, falling 6-2 in nine innings to the #4 Metro State Roadrunners at Auraria Field. Metro State wins the best of three series 2-0 and now advances to the NCAA Division II College Softball World Series next week in St. Joseph, Missouri with a 51-4 record while Wayne State ends the season with a mark of 43-14.

The game was scoreless until the fifth inning, but the Wildcats were aggressive early at the plate as WSC had several scoring chances and left six runners on base in the first three innings. In the second inning, the ‘Cats left the bases loaded failing to score. With two outs, Aeriell Earleywine reached on an error by Metro State third baseman Tara Mickelson. She then advanced to second on an illegal pitch. Brittany Greenwood walked and Amy Sandstrom was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Metro State pitcher Christie Robinson got Kassie Nurton to ground out to third base on a close play to get out of the inning.

Metro State scored the game’s first run in the top of the fifth inning as Lauren Hainlen doubled to left field and pinch runner Jesse Minch later scored on Tara Mickelson’s single to left field to give the Roadrunners a 1-0 lead. WSC tied the score in the bottom of the sixth inning as Sam Earleywine led off with a walk and went to second on Jennifer Radley’s sacrifice bunt. Pinch runner Alesha Finkey replaced Earleywine at second base and advanced to third on Hannah Engelkamp’s ground out. Finkey scored when pinch hitter Amber Baird laced a solid single up the middle to even the score at 1-1. Aeriell Earleywine then singled to center field, but Brittany Greenwood grounded out to third to end the inning and the score remained tied at 1-1.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, WSC put two runners on base but could not score the game-winning run. Kassie Nurton beat out a roller to third base for her third hit of the game. Later in the inning, Sam Earleywine singled to put runners at first and second with two out, but Jennifer Radley grounded out to shortstop to end the threat and the game went into extra innings.

Metro State erupted for five runs in the top of the ninth inning, recording four hits, to take a 6-1 advantage. After Lauren Hainlen opened the inning with a pop up to shortstop, Amber Roundtree was hit by the pitch. She scored when Sarah Rusch doubled to left center field, giving the Roadrunners a 2-1 lead. Mickelson then followed with a two-run homer to center field, putting Metro State in front 4-1. After Jennessa Tesone grounded out to third for the second out, Metro State scored two more runs as Molly Clark walked and scored on Aubree Maul’s double to right field and Maul scored on Kellie Nishikida’s single to left center field making the score 6-1.

WSC did not give up and scored one run in the ninth and got the tying run to the plate before Metro State finally registered the last out. Kassie Nurton reached base on a Metro State error and advanced to third when Blaire Kuhl reached on a fielder’s choice and throwing error by Metro State. Sam Earleywine then followed with a single up the middle that scored Nurton. Jennifer Radley singled through the right side to load the bases and bring the tying run, Hannah Engelkamp to the plate. But Metro State’s Christie Robinson got Engelkamp to fly out to right field to end the game as Metro State hung on for the 6-2 win.

“It was a great series,” commented WSC head coach Krista Unger following the loss. “We had plenty of scoring opportunities and we came up just a little bit short at the end. Even after they (Metro State) scored five in the top of the ninth, we didn’t give up at the end and I was proud of my team for that. This was a great learning experience for our team and with just one senior (Amy Sandstrom) we look for big things next season.”

Wayne State had 10 hits in the game to nine for Metro State. Freshman designated player Kassie Nurton finished 3 for 5 with a run scored to pace the Wildcats at the plate. Sam Earleywine was 2 for 2 with a pair of singles while Sandstrom, Blaire Kuhl, Radley, Amber Baird and Aeriell Earleywine each singled to round out Wayne State’s 10 hits.

Katie Goetzinger (32-10) suffered the pitching loss. The junior fireballer from Harlan, Iowa allowed six runs on nine hits with 12 strikeouts and six walks. Her 12 strikeouts allowed Goetzinger to break her own single season record for strikeouts, finishing this season with 358 strikeouts breaking last year’s mark of 347. And she accomplished the feat by throwing 30 less innings this year compared to last.

The game marked the final contest for Wayne State’s lone senior, centerfielder Amy Sandstrom. “We will really miss Amy,” said Coach Unger. “She was my first four-year player at Wayne State and did so many things for our team, helping turn the program around.”