DETROIT -- The seventh-ranked Wayne State University softball team (48-10 overall) claimed a 6-0 victory over Quincy University (36-16 overall) in the first game of the NCAA Division II softball Midwest Regional No. 1 tournament for both teams at the WSU Softball Stadium Friday evening.  It was the first home NCAA tournament contest for WSU since 1996 when the athletic programs were still known as the Tartars.

The start time was pushed back two hours because the opening game of the tournament went 14 innings before Saginaw Valley upended Indianapolis 3-0.

After the Hawks stranded a runner in each of the first two innings, the Warriors snapped the scoreless tie with a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the second by freshman center fielder Steph Foreman (Cambridge, Ont. / Preston).  Redshirt freshman catcher Brittany Omelanchuk (Brooklin, Ont. / Wilson S.S.) had an infield single with two outs to keep the inning alive.

Wayne State expanded its lead in the fifth as junior designated player Rachel Spaccarotelli (Ray, Mich. / Romeo) was hit by a pitch with one out.  With two outs, pinch-runner Makelle Barski (Trenton, Mich.) stole second and scored when sophomore right fielder Alison Allen (Redford, Mich. / Farmington Hills Mercy) blooped a single into left center.

In the bottom of the sixth, sophomore third baseman Rebecca Stanley (Waterloo, Ont. / Waterloo C.I.) doubled down the left field line leading off the frame.  Sophomore first baseman Becca Ryan (Westland, Mich. / Dearborn Divine Child) followed with a bunt single advancing pinch-runner Kassie Snyder (Marine City, Mich.) to third.  Senior left fielder Stephanie LeClair (Kitchener, Ont. / Forest Heights C.I.) ripped a 2-0 offering for a single to left scoring Snyder.  Omelanchuk's sacrifice bunt advanced both runners, and Foreman followed with a single through the left side plating both runners.

WSU senior pitcher Casey Hanes (Richmond, Va. / Douglas Freeman) improved to 38-3 by tossing a three-hit shutout.  She struck out five and did not walk a batter.  Quincy's Torie Bunzell (25-8) allowed six earned runs on seven hits in six innings with four strikeouts and no walks.

Foreman led the Warriors with a 2-for-3 performance and four RBI.

Wayne State will play Saginaw Valley at 11 a.m. on Saturday in a winner's bracket contest, while Quincy will face GLVC rival Indianapolis in an elimination match at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.  The 11 a.m. loser and 1:30 p.m. winner will meet at 4 p.m. in another loser's bracket game.