DETROIT -- The seventh-ranked Wayne State University softball team (51-11 overall) recorded a 4-0 victory over Ashland University (36-12 overall) in game one of the NCAA Midwest Super Regional.  Game two of the best two-of-three series will be played at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the WSU Softball Stadium.  If Ashland wins game two, game three will be played at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

After WSU senior pitcher Casey Hanes (Richmond, Va./Douglas Freeman) retired the Eagles 1-2-3 in the top of the first, sophomore right fielder Alison Allen (Redford, Mich./Farmington Hills Mercy) had a single up the middle on an 0-2 pitch to start the bottom of the first.

Senior shortstop Jaci Banton (Richmond Hill, Ont./Cardinal Carter) executed her 26th sacrifice bunt of the season advancing Allen to second.  A ground out moved Allen to third where she scored on an RBI single to right field by sophomore first baseman Becca Ryan (Westland, Mich./Dearborn Divine Child).

Each team stranded a runner in the second, and Ashland threatened in the top of the third with two runners on and only one out.  A ground out and a strikeout looking ended the frame.

In the bottom of the inning, sophomore third baseman Rebecca Stanley (Waterloo, Ont./Waterloo C.I.) had a two-out single to left.  After Ryan reached on an AU fielding error, senior left fielder Stephanie LeClair (Kitchener, Ont./Forest Heights C.I.) laced her 43rd career double into left center scoring both Stanley and Ryan.  The 43 doubles places her fourth on the WSU all-time list.

Hanes retired four straight Eagle batters before back-to-back one out walks in the fifth.  The Warrior hurler rebounded with consecutive strikeouts to end the inning.

Banton had a one-out single in the bottom of the fifth and advanced to second on a ground out, before Ryan delivered an RBI single through the left side producing the game's final run.

After a leadoff single in the sixth by AU's Alyssa Kelley, Hanes retired the final six batters to record her 41st win (41-6) of the season.

Hanes struck out seven and walked two.  AU pitcher Emlyn Knerem (23-4) allowed six hits in six innings with one strikeout and no walks.  Only two of the four runs allowed were earned.

Ryan had two of WSU's six hits and drove in two runs, while LeClair had the other two RBI.