Decatur, Ala. -- The 20th-ranked Wayne State University softball team (3-2 overall) battled No. 2-ranked North Georgia College & State University (10-0 overall) scoreless through eight innings, but fell 4-1 in a nine-inning affair Sunday morning on the final day of the 2010 Decatur Chillout.

The Saints' leadoff batter Laura Voyles was hit by a pitch to start the game, but redshirt freshman catcher Brittany Omelanchuk (Brooklin, Ont. / Wilson S.S.) threw out Voyles trying to steal following a strikeout.

WSU senior shortstop Jaci Banton (Richmond Hill, Ont. / Cardinal Carter) singled with one out in the first and was stranded after stealing second.

NGCSU's Kasey Knight singled with two outs in the third but was called out for leaving early during the ensuing at bat.

Voyles was hit by a pitch leading off the fourth, but was erased on a fielder's choice.

Omelanchuk walked for the second consecutive at bat with one out in the fourth but a sacrifice bunt and a pop out ended the frame.

The Saints had two-out singles in both the fifth and sixth innings, but WSU senior pitcher Casey Hanes (Richmond, Va. / Douglas Freeman) was able to retire the next batter both times.

NGCSU's Hilary Cox singled leading off the seventh.  Pinch-runner Victoria St. Clair advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and moved to third on a ground out, but Hanes was able to strike out looking pinch-hitter Kayla Martin.

International tie-breaker took effect in the eighth with the last Saints batter being placed second.  Catcher Natasha Willemse reached on an error, and after a strikeout, Voyles singled but the "placed" runner was thrown out at the plate by Warrior centerfielder Steph Foreman (Cambridge, Ont. / Preston).  A fly out ended the top of the eighth.

In the bottom of the frame, Foreman was placed on second.  Pinch-hitter Makelle Barski (Trenton, Mich.) advanced Foreman to third with a sacrifice bunt but a ground out and strikeout ended the inning.

The Saints scored four unearned runs in the top of the ninth on an infield single, an error, a hit by pitch, fielder's choice and a two-run single.

WSU would not go quietly in its half of the ninth.  Lauren Histed (Shelby Twp., Mich. / Utica) was placed on second and moved to third on a ground out.  Banton's double to left plated Histed but the next two Warrior hitters grounded out to second.

North Georgia avenges one of its three regular-season losses from a year ago as pitcher Sarah Phillips (7-0) struck out eight and walked two allowing two hits, both to Banton.

Hanes (2-1) was spectacular for WSU scattering seven hits and recording 12 strikeouts to no walks.

Wayne State closes out its opening weekend competition with a contest this afternoon against fifth-ranked Indianapolis, who ended WSU's season last year in the regional final.