ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The Wayne State University softball team (4-1 overall) concluded play at the 2016 Lewis University Dome Invitational being held at the Dome at the Ballpark with a 5-1 triumph over Wisconsin-Parkside (3-13 overall) on Sunday.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Rangers struck first in the bottom of the first on doubles by Madison Manders and Carly Dundee.

Wayne State battled back in the top of the third despite the first two batters being retired.  Senior third baseman Jade McGarr (Guelph, Ont. / St. James Catholic) ripped a 1-2 offering into left center field for a triple, and classmater Shelby Spano (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Stevenson) followed with a two-run blast to centerfield.

The Warriors extended their lead in the fifth as McGarr had a leadoff bunt and advanced to third on a single to right by Spano.  Freshman shortstop Hannah McClounie (Essex, Ont. / St. Anne Catholic) delivered a sacrifice fly plating McGarr with WSU's third run.

Wayne State added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh.  Junior pitcher Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont. / Centennial C.V.I.) homered on the first pitch of the frame, and junior outfielder Allie Buchanan (Cambridge, Ont. / Galt C.I.) followed with a double to centerfield.  McGarr's bunt base hit put runners on the corners, and with two outs, senior catcher Ali Lince (St. Clair Shores, Mich. / Lakeview) drew a 3-2 walk after fouling off a couple of two-strike pitches.

IN THE CIRCLE

Butler (3-0) went the distance allowing just the first inning run and a total of four hits.  She struck out nine and walked three.

Dundee (2-6) started for the Rangers and allowed five earned runs on 12 hits in six-plus innings of work.  She struck out two and walked one.  Amber Ramos retired three of the five batters she faced but allowed an inherited runner to score.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

McGarr went 4-for-4 with two runs scored, while Butler, Buchanan and Spano each had two hits as the top four WSU batters combined to go 10-for-16 with five runs scored and three RBI. 

UP NEXT

Wayne State will travel to Raleigh, North Carolina, this weekend (March 4-5-6) for a six-game tournament hosted by Shaw University.