Boxscore

Findlay, Ohio -- The Wayne State University softball team (32-20 overall) advanced to the winner's bracket final of the 2012 GLIAC tournament being held in Findlay, Ohio, with a 6-5 victory over GLIAC South Division Champion Ashland University (40-14 overall) Friday afternoon.

The win was WSU's fourth in five tries against the Eagles this season.

The Warriors struck in the top of the first off GLIAC Pitcher of the Year Emlyn Knerem (27-4) as sophomore left fielder Logan White (Brantford, Ont. / Johnson C.V.I.) doubled with one out and scored as senior third baseman Alison Allen (Redford, Mich. / Farmington Hills Mercy) drilled a 1-2 offering into right center for an RBI double.

AU tied the game in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff double, a sacrifice bunt and an RBI single by Alyssa Kelley.

Wayne State took the lead for good with three runs in the top of the third.  GLIAC Co-Player of the Year Nikki Fulton Stratford, Ont. / St. Michael Catholic S.S.() doubled down the right field line with one out, and following a ground out, the Warriors produced three consecutive hits -- an RBI single by Allen, an RBI double by senior first baseman Rebecca Ryan (Westland, Mich. / Dearborn Divine Child) on a blast off the center field fence, and an RBI double to right center by junior right fielder Stephanie Foreman (Cambridge, Ont. / Preston).

After both teams went 1-2-3 in the fourth, WSU had a chance to extend its lead in the fifth as White singled with one out and Allen doubled but a pair of outs was sandwiched around an intentional walk to Foreman.

Ashland went 1-2-3 in the fifth, as did Wayne State in the top of the sixth.  In the bottom of the sixth, the Eagles had a leadoff single by Kelley (the Co-Player of the Year in the conference with Fulton), but Warrior starter Briana Lee (Canton, Mich. / Salem) retired the next three batters.

WSU scored two runs in the top of the seventh, which eventually proved to be very necessary.  Fulton doubled to start the frame and Allen singled with one out to put runners on the corners.  Ryan then blased a 2-0 pitch off the center field fence scoring Fulton.  A walk to Foreman, preceded an RBI fielder's choice by sophomore catcher Julie Ingratta (Markham, Ont.).

Lee had limited Ashland to four hits in the first six innings, but the Eagles had back-to-back singles to start the seventh.  After an infield fly pop out, a single by leadoff hitter Cayla Seidler loaded the bases.  Jerrica Young contributed a two-run single with Seidler scoring during a run down in which Young was able to return to first safely.

Warrior senior hurler Sam Cain (Taylor, Mich. / Kennedy) entered the contest a recorded a huge out as Kelley flied out to Foreman.  Back-to-back singles by AU made the score 6-5 with two runners on, but Cain was able to induce a pop out off the bat of Tawna Garver.

The top four WSU batters went a combined 10-16 against Knerem with six runs scored and four RBI, led by Allen's 4-for-4 performance.  Fulton, White and Ryan each had two hits apiece, while Foreman went 1-for-2 with two walks.

Kelley had three of AU's 10 hits.

Lee improved to 9-6 despite allowing five earned runs on eight hits in 6.1 innings.  She struck out three and walked one. Cain notched her third save of the season.

Knerem was tagged for six earned runs in seven innings on 11 hits.  She struck out seven and walked two.

Wayne State is scheduled to play Ferris State at 10 am on Saturday in the winner's bracket final, however the weather in Findlay is not promising for Saturday morning.