Game 1 Boxscore -- Game 2 Boxscore

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University softball team (30-20 overall, 22-10 GLIAC) concluded the regular-season with a split against Ashland University (39-13 overall, 23-9 GLIAC), the third-ranked squad in the Midwest Region.  WSU scored once in the bottom of the seventh to win the opener 3-2, but the Eagles out-slugged the Warriors 8-6 in the nightcap.

In the opener, WSU trailed 1-0 after one-half inning as AU had a batter reach on an error with two outs and score on a double by Franki Gironda.

Wayne State wasted little time in tying the game as sophomore left fielder Logan White (Brantford, Ont. / Johnson C.V.I.) fouled off two two-strike pitches, before hitting a single into left center with one out.  After a fielder's choice, senior first baseman Rebecca Ryan (Westland, Mich. / Dearborn Divine Child) had a single to center. On a 1-1 offering from AU's Emlyn Knerem (26-3), junior outfielder Stephanie Foreman (Cambridge, Ont. / Preston) laced a single through the left side scoring senior third baseman Alison Allen (Redford, Mich. / Farmington Hills Mercy) with the tying run.

Both WSU starter senior Sam Cain (Taylor, Mich. / Kennedy) and Knerem tossed goose eggs for the next three innings allowing just a combined four hits in the seven half-innings.  Cain entered the contest 13-1 in her last 14 decisions, while Knerem had only lost to Ohio Dominican on April 5th and WSU on April 10th in the entire season.

The Warriors began the fifth with back-to-back singles by sophomore second baseman Nikki Fulton (Stratford, Ont. / St. Michael Catholic S.S.) and White.  Allen then hit a grounder to short, but Bri Woody's throw to third did not beat a sliding Fulton.  After a line out, Foreman singled down the right field line plating Fulton with the go-ahead run.

With one out in the top of the sixth, AU senior third baseman Alyssa Kelley smacked a home run over the center field hitting wall to knot the game at two.

Ashland's Kourtney Yarnall led off the seventh with a double over the center fielder's head.  Woody's sacrifice bunt advanced Yarnall to third, but Cain struck out pinch-hitter Kaely Stucin, then retired Cayla Seidler on a come-backer to the mound.

White started the rally in the bottom of the seventh with a single to left center.  Following a fielder's choice, Ryan smacked a single to center moving Allen to second.  On an 0-1 pitch, Foreman doubled over the Eagle left fielder scoring Allen with the winning run.

Cain struck out five and walked two to improve to 19-9 and defeat Knerem for the second time this season.  Cain limited the AU batters to 1-for-8 with runners on base.  Knerem struck out six and walked one but allowed 12 hits.

Foreman, the reigning GLIAC Player of the Week, went 4-for-4 and drove in all three Warrior runs.  Both White and Ryan went 3-for-4.

Wayne State fell behind 6-1 in the nightcap and kept cutting the deficit but could never score the equalizer.

In fact, WSU left 10 runners on base and went 8-for-24 with runners on base.

AU's Taylor Menhart smacked a three-run home run with two outs in the first, and Jerrica Young led off the third with a solo shot down the left field line.  Three batters later Menhart hit a two-run four-bagger off the left field foul pole.

The Warriors first run came in the top of the third as senior shortstop Lauren Histed (Shelby Twp., Mich. / Utica) had a leadoff single, and scored on a two-out single by Allen.

Wayne State pulled within two at 6-4 by scoring three times on five hits in the fourth.  Senior Rebecca Stanley (Waterloo, Ont. / Waterloo C.I.) had a leadoff single and pinch-runner Makelle Barski (Trenton, Mich.) advanced to second on a single by freshman center fielder Shannon Hilton (Gilford, Ont. / Bradford).  After a fly out, Histed's single to center scored Barski.  Following a fielder's choice, White singled to center plating Histed and Allen's base hit scored Fulton with WSU's fourth run.

Young answered for AU with a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth.

Trailing 8-4, the Warrior batters responded with a pair of runs in the sixth as Histed worked a leadoff walk, and White was hit by a pitch with one out.  Allen drilled a 1-0 offering from AU starter Amber McDermott off the center field wall to make it an 8-6 contest.  Back-to-back fly outs ended the sixth inning rally.

In the top of the seventh with AU bringing Knerem back into the circle, freshman Shelby Spano (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Stevenson) had a leadoff single.  With two outs Histed single bringing the go-ahead run to the plate but the contest ended on a strikeout.

Junior Emily Wickerham (North Branch, Mich.) pitched the final 3.2 innings for Cain allowing just two earned runs on five hits with one strikeout.

McDermott (12-6) hurled six innings allowing 10 hits and six earned runs but garnered the win.  Knerem notched her fourth save of the season.

Histed went 3-for-3 with a walk and three runs scored, while Allen went 3-for-4 with four RBI.  Stanley had two hits in the contest as the WSU senior class concluded their regular-season careers in stellar fashion.

Wayne State will face either Hillsdale or Tiffin in the opening round of the GLIAC tournament on Friday at noon in Findlay, Ohio.  HC and TU both finished with 17-15 league ledgers, but the tiebreaker points system involves all 32 league games for both teams.