DETROIT -- The Wayne State University softball team (28-23-1 overall, 16-13-1 GLIAC) concluded the 2011 regular season with a pair of home setbacks, 4-0 and 8-5, to visiting Ashland University (29-15 overall, 21-7 GLIAC) on Sunday afternoon at the WSU Softball Stadium.

In the opener, Eagle starter Emlyn Knerem retired the first nine WSU batters until Logan White walked leading off the fourth. After a sacrifice bunt by Lauren Histed, White moved to third on a ground out.  Following a walk to Brittany Omelanchuk, a pop out ended the inning.

AU scored all four of its runs in the top of the third on four hits.  Bri Woody had a one-out single and Alyssa Kelley followed with a double. Following an intentional walk and strikeout, Tawna Garver had a three-run double to right center and Franki Gironda followed with an RBI single down the left field line.

The Warriors had a chance to score in the bottom of the seventh as Rebecca Ryan had a leadoff single and Rebecca Stanley worked a walk, but the next three batters were retired.

Knerem struck out seven and walked four to improve to 22-6, while limiting WSU to two hits.

Sam Cain (12-14) surrendered four earned runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts and two walks.

Ashland scored first in game two without a hit.  Lyndsey Brandt was hit by a pitch leading off the third and Carly West reached on an error with Brandt advancing to third.  Following a ground out, Logan Hursey was intentionally walked with Brandt scoring on Cayla Seidler's sacrifice fly.

Wayne State took its first lead of the day in the top of the fourth with a four-run frame.  Omelanchuk reached on an error and Ryan singled.  Stanley's sacrifice bunt advanced both runners and Nikki Fulton worked a walk by fouling off a pair of two-strike pitches.  Steph Foreman singled scoring Omelanchuk with the tying run and freshman pitcher Lauren McLaughlin followed with her first collegiate hit plating run with the go-ahead run.  White was hit by a pitch forcing in Fulton.  Histed's sacrifice fly scored Foreman with WSU's fourth run.  Alison Allen walked on four pitches to load the bases, but Omelanchuk flied out to end the inning.

The Eagles scored twice in the bottom of the fourth on one hit and two errors after the first two batters were retired.

The Warriors responded with a run in the fifth as Stanley had a one-out single, went to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a passed ball.  Foreman's sacrifice fly scored Stanley putting WSU ahead 5-3.

AU scored five runs in the sixth on five hits but was aided by a pair of Warrior miscues.  Ashland scored the go-ahead run when Omelanchuk's throw to third got away from the WSU third baseman.  Erica Miller then followed with a two-run double to complete the scoring.

Hursey (3-9) earned the win in relief by limiting Wayne State one unearned run on four hits in three innings.  Knerem started for the Eagles and allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits in four innings.

McLaughlin (16-9) went the distance in the circle for WSU and allowed eight runs (two earned) on eight hits.

Ryan had three of the Warriors nine hits, with Stanley going 2-for-2.

Wayne State will play Grand Valley in the first round of the GLIAC tournament at 10 am on Friday.