CLERMONT, Fla. -- The Wayne State University softball team (12-13 overall) had mixed results on Wednesday defeating NYIT 9-2 before falling 6-5 to Minnesota State-Moorhead in the bottom of the seventh.

In the opener, the Warriors scored five times in the bottom of the first.  Sophomore Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont. / Centennial C.V.I.) walked on four pitches, stole second, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Kristen Lucas (Newmarket, Ont. / Mulock S.S.) and scored on a single by senior second baseman Nikki Fulton (Stratford, Ont. / St. Michael Catholic S.S.).  Senior Emily Bryce (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester Adams) followed with a single and Fulton scored when junior Jade McGarr's (Guelph, Ont. / St. James Catholic) bunt single culminated in a throwing error.  After McGarr stole second, sophomore Devin Hentschel (Wyoming, Mich. / Rogers) plated Bryce with a sacrifice fly.  WSU made it 4-0 as Bryce scored on Allie Buchanan's (Cambridge, Ont. / Galt C.I.) double, then Gabby Williams (South Lyon, Mich.) had a single to score Buchanan.

The Bears scored twice in the top of the fourth off WSU starter Mackenzie Boehler (Saginaw, Mich. / Swan Valley) on two singles and a double, but the Warriors were able to escape after the fourth hit of the inning as Hentschel nailed a runner at the plate, and Bryce fired down to second to get the batter to end the frame.

Wayne State added three insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth as freshman Kylee Barrett (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) had a leadoff single and Buchanan followed with another hit.  After a pop out, junior Shannon Hilton (Gilford, Ont. / Bradford) loaded the bases on a bunt single, and Butler drove in a pair with a single to right center.  Following a pitching change, Lucas plated Hilton with a sacrifice fly.

WSU's final run came in the sixth as freshman Hailey Lazarek (Allen Park, Mich.) had an infield single to start the frame.  Junior Ali Lince (St. Clair Shores, Mich. / Lakeview) was hit by a pitch and with two outs, Lazarek moved to third on a passed ball, then scored on a single by Hilton.

Boehler allowed two runs on four hits to earn her first victory of the season (1-2).  She struck out three and did not walk a batter.  The Warriors pounded out 15 hits with five players -- Fulton, Bryce, McGarr, Buchanan and Hilton -- each recording two-hit games.

In the nightcap, Wayne State let a pair of two run leads (3-1, 5-3) go in falling 6-5 to the Dragons of Minnesota State-Moorhead.

MSUM scored once in the second on a double, a walk, an error and a ground out.

The Warriors answered with a three-run third inning.  Butler had a single to start the frame, went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lucas and moved to third on a hit by Fulton, before scoring on a passed ball.  Bryce's single scored Fulton, while Bryce came around to score on a single by McGarr and an error.

The Dragons tied the game at three in the fourth on a two-run home run by Kristy Bruni.

The Warriors responded with a pair of runs in the sixth.  Buchanan reached on an error then scored on another MSUM miscue.  After a sacrifice bunt by Lince, sophomore Emily Cava () scored on a double by Butler.

Bruni smacked another two-run home run in the sixth to knot the game at 5-5.

Wayne State was unable to score in the seventh despite having a runner at third with one out.  Williamson led off the bottom of the seventh with a triple and was still there after two outs were recorded, but Brittany York singled to left to complete the Dragon comeback.

WSU starter Briana Lee (Canton, Mich. / Salem) suffered the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits in 6.2 innings.  She struck out six and walked three.

Morgan Nybo improved to 7-2 by limiting the Warriors to five runs (two earned) on 11 hits with one strikeout and no walks.

McGarr and Fulton each had three hits, while Butler had two hits.

After an off day on Thursday, Wayne State will play Sioux Falls and Bridgeport on Friday.