DETROIT -- The Wayne State University softball team (25-15 overall, 9-2 GLIAC) extended its winning streak to seven games by sweeping visiting Walsh University (13-6 overall, 8-3 GLIAC), 4-0 and 6-2, Saturday afternoon at the WSU Softball Stadium.  The two wins for the Warriors move WSU within one game of first place and knocked the Cavaliers from the top spot in the league standings.

A pair of two-run innings and solid pitching from sophomore Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont. / Centennial C.V.I.) enabled WSU to win the opener 4-0.

Junior third baseman Jade McGarr (Guelph, Ont. / St. James Catholic) hit a line shot off the glove of Walsh shortstop Sam Troxell into left field for a leadoff single in the bottom of the second.  Sophomore left fielder Devin Hentschel (Wyoming, Mich. / Rogers) beat out a bunt single with McGarr going to third on a throwing error by Cavalier hurler Casi Rohr (9-4).  When the right fielder's throw was errant, McGarr was able to score the game's first run.  A sacrifice bunt by freshman designated player Kylee Barrett (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) advanced Hentschel to third, where she scored on a safety squeeze by junior center fielder Shannon Hilton (Gilford, Ont. / Bradford).

Wayne State added two insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth as freshman right fielder Kristen Lucas (Newmarket, Ont. / Mulock S.S.) singled in the hole at short after Butler had flied out to the warning track in center field.  After a fielder's choice, senior catcher Emily Bryce (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester Adams) walked on five pitches.  McGarr followed with an RBI single through the left side scoring Lucas moving pinch-runner Hailey Lazarek (Allen Park, Mich.) to third.  On the third pitch to Hentschel, Lazarek was able to score on a wild pitch.

Butler was outstanding in the circle recording 12 strikeouts to two walks, while allowing three singles.  Other than a line drive base hit by Anna Anderson leading off the top of the sixth, the other two hits were a check-swing blooper over the first baseman's head by Troxell leading off the fourth, and an infield hit in the fifth by Annie Woolf that had enough english on it to look like a trick shot in billiards.

Rohr surrendered four runs (three earned) on six hits in six innings with one strikeout and three walks.

McGarr led WSU with two hits, a run scored and an RBI while Lucas went 1-for-1 with a walk and sacrifice bunt.

In the nightcap, the Warriors scored twice in the first inning on a wind-aided double by McGarr that plated Lucas and senior second baseman Nikki Fulton (Stratford, Ont. / St. Michael Catholic S.S.), who had back-to-back one-out singles.  With the wind blowing from right center to the left field line, McGarr's high fly had the Cavalier second baseman finally trying to make a diving catch in shallow center field.

Wayne State increased its lead to 3-0 in the top of the fourth.  McGarr had a leadoff bunt single, stole second and moved to third on a ground out by starting pitcher Briana Lee (Canton, Mich. / Salem).  With two outs, junior shortstop Gabby Williams (South Lyon, Mich.) hit a single into right center plating McGarr.

Walsh scored once in the bottom of the frame on a leadoff double by Marissa Bondoni and a one-out single through the right side by Danni Murtaugh.

The Cavaliers pulled within a run in the fifth on a one-out single up the middle by Anderson.  Butler replaced Lee in the circle for WSU and Troxell was hit by a 1-1 offering as she was trying to bunt.  Nikki Newman's single down the right field line scored Anderson, but Butler preserved the lead with a pair of strikeouts on seven total pitches.

WSU regained its two-run advantage in the top of the sixth as McGarr ripped a one-out double to the fence in left center.  With two outs, Lee who had moved to the designated player role, laced a 1-1 offering from Walsh pitcher Olivia Pifer (2-2) to the left center field fence scoring McGarr.

Butler set the Cavaliers down in order in the sixth with two more strikeouts.

The Warriors tacked on two more insurance runs in the top of the seventh as pinch-hitter Shelby Spano (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Stevenson) shot through the right side was stopped at the edge of the grass by a diving Abby Reusser.  Butler and Lucas had back-to-back bunt singles to load the bases.  Fulton hit a laser down the left field line that Reagan Rito snared but her throw from her knees was wild allowing the two trail runners to advance after the sacrifice fly.  Bryce followed with another sacrifice fly scoring Butler.

In the bottom of the seventh, Butler struck out the final two Walsh hitters after a comebacker and a walk began the frame.

Lee improved to 10-6 on the season with the win, while Buter notched her fourth save of the campaign.  Lee allowed two earned runs on three hits in 4.1 innings with four strikeouts and two walks.  Butler struck out six of the 11 batters she faced allowing just one hit and one walk.

Pifer allowed six runs (five earned) on 11 hits with one walk and one strikeout.

McGarr went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored to extend her hitting streak to six games, while Lucas went 2-for-3 as eight different Warriors had hits in the contest.

Wayne State will host GLIAC foe Malone for a twinbill on Sunday starting at noon.