Ashland, Ohio -- The fourth-ranked Wayne State University softball squad (22-7 overall, 0-2 GLIAC) was outscored by the host Ashland Eagles (15-5 overall, 5-1 GLIAC) 8-7 in the second game of Wednesday's league twinbill.

AU scored three times in the top of the first (for conference doubleheaders, the host team is designated the visiting squad).

Sophomore right fielder Alison Allen (Redford, Mich. / Farmington Hills Mercy) blasted a home run to left center on the first pitch in the bottom of the first.

After the Eagles tallied two more in the top of the second, the Warriors battled back with two of their own in the bottom half of the inning.  Senior left fielder Stephanie LeClair (Kitchener, Ont. / Forest Heights C.I.) had a leadoff double down the left field line and scored on a one-out home run down the left field line by junior catcher Rachel Spaccarotelli (Ray, Mich. / Romeo).

Wayne State knotted the score at five in the bottom of the third with a pair of runs.  Allen walked on five pitches and advanced to third as senior shortstop Jaci Banton (Richmond Hill, Ont. / Cardinal Carter) reached on a throwing error of her sacrifice bunt.  Becca Ryan () had a two-run one-out single to left tying the contest.

Ashland responded with two in the top of the fourth and another in the fifth for an 8-5 advantage.

The Warriors pulled within a run in the bottom of the fifth as Ryan singled with two outs and scored on LeClair's home run to left center.  It was LeClair's fourth home run of the season, a career-high.

Following LeClair's blast, the next six WSU hitters were retired until Rebecca Stanley (Waterloo, Ont. / Waterloo C.I.) had a two-out single in the top of the seventh, but she was left stranded.

Sam Cain (Taylor, Mich. / Kennedy) started in the circle for Wayne State and allowed five earned runs on six hits while facing eight batters.  Nicole Abel (Kitchener, Ont. / St. Mary's) surrendered two runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings to suffer her first loss of the season.  Casey Hanes (Kitchener, Ont. / St. Mary's) allowed one run on five hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Hanes moved into 22nd place on the NCAA Division II all-time strikeout list with 950.  She passed former Upper Iowa hurler Angie Weber (2003-06), who had 949.  Arkansas-Monticello's Lindsey Kight (2001-04) is 21st with 985.

Logan Hursey earned the victory despite allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits in five innings.  Emlyn Knerem notched her third save with two scoreless innings of relief.

Ryan, LeClair and Spaccarotelli each had two RBI, while Ryan and LeClair each had two hits.

WSU begins the home portion of its schedule with doubleheaders on Friday (3:30 pm vs. Hillsdale) and Saturday (1 pm vs. Findlay).