Box Score
Box Score (HTML)

Salem, Va. -- The Wayne State University softball team (46-11 overall) surrendered three runs in the top of the seventh on four hits and a pair of errors, then the Valdosta State Blazers (46-14 overall) scored on a three-run home run in the top of the ninth to defeat the Warriors 8-5 on the opening day of the 2014 College World Series.

WSU will play Southeastern Oklahoma State at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday in an elimination contest.  Dixie State defeated the Savage Storm 3-1 in Thursday's final game.

Wayne State took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a two-out RBI single from Emily Bryce (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams) after a one-out double by Logan White (Brantford, Ont.).

VSU had a leadoff home run in the second by Chelsea Canara to knot the game at one.  The Warriors responded with a leadoff home run in the second by Jade McGarr (Guelph, Ont.) to regain the one run lead at 2-1.

The Blazers tied the game in the top of the fourth on a walk and three base hits. 

In the bottom of the frame, Emily Cava (Brampton, Ont.) had a two-out single and White followed with a base hit as well.  WSU hurler Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont.) then plated Cava with an RBI single down the right field line prompting a pitching change for VSU.

Wayne State increased its lead to 5-2 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth.  Cava reached on a one-out error, and pinch-runner Catherine Rayos (Warren, Mich./Mott) advanced to second on a ground out.  Butler followed with a single to short with Rayos scoring on a wild throw to first.  Bryce then singled to right center scoring Butler.

In the top of the seventh with one out, Shelby Altman and Kiley Rusen had back-to-back singles.  Hannah Strickland's grounder hit pinch-runner Brandi Blount as she cut in front of second baseman Julie Ingratta (Markham, Ont.) and the ball changed direction and proceeded into right field allowing Altman to score.  Blount, who could have been ruled out on the previous play, scored on a Warrior miscue before Fran Johnson singled to plate an unearned run to tie the game at 5-5.  Had the runner been ruled out when struck by the battted ball, there would have been two outs and two on with a 5-2 advantage for WSU followed by a grounder to short, which would have ended the game (see the play at 1:46.10).

Wayne State went in order in the bottom of the seventh on four pitches, before Butler worked around a two-out double in the eighth.  The Warriors had a one-out single in the eighth by White but she was the 12th stranded runner in the game for WSU.

In the top of the ninth, Valdosta had back-to-back singles followed by a sacrifice bunt and a three-run home run by Johnson.

Butler (25-6) was the hard-luck loser allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 15 hits with eightt strikeouts to one walk.

VSU starter Brianna Hancock left after allowing three earned runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings with two strikeouts and two walks.  Caitlyn Calhoun (11-4) earned the win in relief holding WSU to two unearned runs on six hits in 5.1 innings with four strikeouts.

White and McGarr were each 3-for-5 for Wayne State, while Butler, Bryce and Ingratta each chipped in two hits as part of WSU's 14-hit attack.