DETROIT -- The Wayne State University softball team, after winning its second NCAA Midwest Super Regional title in the past five years, travels to Salem, Va. for the 2014 NCAA Division II College World Series.  The eight Super Regional winners from last weekend's play will converge at the Moyer Sports Complex Thursday through Monday to see who will claim the national title.

LINK TO WAYNE STATE'S TOURNAMENT CENTRAL

TOURNAMENT HISTORY
WSU is in the NCAA Tournament for the 19th time in the 33-year tenure of head coach Gary Bryce, who became the 17th coach in all of NCAA Softball (all three divisions combined) to reach the 1,100-win plateau earlier this season. The only schools currently in D-II with more than 19 softball appearances are Bloomsburg - 32; California (PA) - 23; Augustana (SD) - 22; Humboldt State - 21; and Florida Southern - 20.

The Warriors are 24-39 overall in the NCAA Tournament. Wayne State has made at least four appearances in each of the past four decades under Bryce. Wayne State qualified four times during the 1980's ('83, '84, '86, '88), five times during the 90's ('90, '92, '93, '94, '96) and six times in the 2000's ('02, '03, '06, '07, '08, '09). WSU has already made four appearances during the current decade as well ('10, '12, '13, '14).  The Warriors are making their eighth NCAA Tournament trip in the past nine years and have a record of 16-16 in the past decade in NCAA games.

Last season, the Warriors dropped their first two games in an NCAA Midwest Regional hosted by Indianapolis. WSU fell in straight games to host Indianapolis and then Ashland, two teams that Wayne State defeated during the season this year, and again in NCAA Regional play.

WSU advanced to the College World Series twice before in 2003 and 2010.  The Warriors won a Midwest Regional title at Grand Valley State in 2003 despite scoring just four runs in four games.  Catcher Maria D'Agostino homered in a 1-0 victory over SIU-Edwardsville, while Meghan Misiak tossed a four-hit shutout.  Shortstop Sue Verbeem homered on the first pitch of the game, right fielder Natalya Natyshak drove in an insurance run with a two-out bases loaded single in the sixth, and Misiak hurled a two-hitter in a 2-0 triumph at GVSU.  After a 2-0 setback to the Lakers, Wayne State claimed the regional title with a 1-0 win over Grand Valley State as Verbeem smacked a two-out home run in the bottom of the fifth to back another fine pitching effort by Misiak.

In 2010, Casey Hanes tossed a two-hit shutout of Ashland in the first game of the Super Regional at Wayne State.  Becca Ryan and Stephanie LeClair each drove in two runs with Ryan notching the game-winning RBI as her first inning base hit scored Alison Allen.  The Warriors snapped a 1-1 tie in game two with a five-run fifth inning.  Jaci Banton had a two-run double, followed by back-to-back home runs from Rebecca Stanley and Ryan to chase Eagle starting pitcher Emlyn Knerem.

SUCCESS AGAINST TOURNAMENT TEAMS
Wayne State had plenty of success during the 2014 regular-season against teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament compiling a 13-6 mark against those squads prior to the start of the NCAA Tournament. Wayne State went 8-2 in a five-week span against tournament teams between the beginning of February until mid-March. The Warriors defeated Indianapolis, 3-0, to open the season on Feb. 7. Wayne State also had victories over North Alabama, North Georgia, Winona State, Caldwell, New Haven along with two victories over LIU-Post.

Wayne State also fared well against teams in the NCAA Midwest Regional #2 bracket, finishing 5-2 combined against Ashland (3-0), Grand Valley State (1-2) and Indianapolis (1-0). Wayne State upended Ashland in 5-0 and 3-0 wins on April 19 and then used a come-from-behind effort in the GLIAC Tournament to beat the Eagles, 4-3. WSU was outscored by GVSU, 14-4, in a doubleheader sweep by the Lakers in Allendale on April 11, but the Warriors rebounded for a 3-2, walkoff win over Grand Valley State in the GLIAC Tournament.

2014 NCAA MIDWEST REGIONAL #2 RECAP
Wayne State was the only squad in the 64 team bracket to not allow a run during regional competition.

The Warriors began NCAA tournament play with a 3-0 win over Ashland as Briana Lee (20-2) and Lyndsay Butler (5th save) combined on a five-hit shutout.  Butler had a sacrifice fly in the first, Emily Cava had an RBI double in the fifth and Amanda Burnard added an RBI single in the sixth.

Butler hurled a two-hit shutout the next day against Grand Valley State, while Logan White smacked a two-out, two-run home run in the third (her first home run since 2012).  Emily Bryce wallopped her first home run of the year leading off the fourth for the 3-0 win.

In the regional championship game, WSU blanked Indianapolis 7-0 scoring once in the first and adding five more in the second to knock out First Team All-American pitcher Morgan Foley.  Julie Ingratta had an RBI single in the first, while Butler and Bryce contributed back-to-back RBI singles in the second.  Ingratta then laced a 2-0 offering off relief pitcher Coryn Tirpak to plate another run with Jade McGarr following with a two-run single.  The final run came on an RBI double by Butler.  Foley allowed a season-high six earned runs on five hits in 1.1 innings with one strikeout and three walks.

2014 NCAA MIDWEST SUPER REGIONAL RECAP

After dropping Friday's opener 3-0 at Missouri-St. Louis as Triton second baseman Katie Wood hit two home runs, the Warriors rallied to win both games on Saturday in the Show Me State.

Butler struck out 11 in a three-hit shutout in game two of the series, while Ingratta knocked in the only run with an RBI single in the fourth.

In the decisive third game, Cava led off the bottom of the first with her first career home run, then the Warriors tacked on five runs in the bottom of the third, knocking All-American pitcher Hannah Perryman from the contest.  Perryman allowed six run (two earned) on four hits in 2.0+ innings in the circle.  White and Bryce had RBI singles before McGarr and Briana Lee drove in runs off reliever Brittni Chapman.  Lee had a two-run single to make it 6-0.  Butler replaced Lee in the circle in the fourth after the Tritons had pulled within 6-3.  Ingratta had a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth and Butler closed the door allowing just one unearned run with four strikeouts and no walks in the final 3.1 innings.

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS VS. ELITE EIGHT SCHOOLS
Wayne State is 2-5 all-time vs. Valdosta State with an 0-2 mark in neutral site contests.  The Blazers have won the last three meetings including a 5-1 triumph on Feb. 17, 2013, at the Charger Chillout in Decatur, Ala.  The first six meeting took place between 1995 and 1999.

The Warriors trail the all-time series vs. Southeastern Oklahoma 1-0 as the Savage Storm won 2-0 on March 6, 2004, in Irving, Texas at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.

WSU has a 3-0 record against Armstrong Atlantic winning 5-2 in 1999 at the Valdosta State Tournament, then recording a pair of one-run victories (6-5 and 2-1) in 2010 at the Catawba College Invitational.

The Warriors have a 9-4 all-time mark vs. LIU Post.  Wayne State won twice earlier this season (1-0 and 5-0) as part of the Rebel Spring Games in March.  The Pioneers claimed a 6-4 victory in 2013, after the teams had split in 2011 (LIU 4-0, WSU 5-2).  The squads split the first four meetings in Florida between 1997 and 2000, before the Warriors went on a four-game winning streak from 2001-09.

WSU has never faced Dixie State, West Chester or West Texas A&M.

TARTAR TIDBITS
WSU had a school record 19-game winning streak, prior to last Friday's 3-0 loss at Missouri-St. Louis.

Second most wins in school history with 46 (2010 CWS qualifier won 52 games)

First time in school history to have two 20-game winners in the same season

Most shutouts (27) in a season (previous mark was 25 in 2010)

Most strikeouts (512) in a season (previous mark was 456 in 2007)

Most stolen bases (36) since 1997

Second-lowest ERA (0.98) behind 1986 (0.81)

Second-lowest opponent batting average (.165) behind 1986 (.161)

Fewest walks/g at 1.25 (previous school record was 1.64 in 1996)

Most strikeouts/g at 9.31 (previous school record was 8.14 in 2007)

Second highest fielding percentage (.9668), just behind 2004 (also .9672)

Third fewest errors with 52

Team ERA (0.98) is second nationally behind Tampa

Only 17 unearned runs in 385.0 innings

Ninth in D-II in winning percentage (.821)

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