ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- The 10th-ranked Wayne State University softball team (48-8 overall) stayed alive in the NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament with a 3-1 triumph over sixth-ranked Missouri-St. Louis (53-9 overall) in an elimination game Friday evening.

After the Tritons stranded a runner in the top of the first, junior Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont. / Centennial C.V.I.) blasted an 0-1 offering from All-American Hannah Perryman over the fence down the right field line for a 1-0 lead.  On the very next pitch, junior outfielder Allie Buchanan (Cambridge, Ont. / Galt C.I.) laced a double into right center.  Senior third baseman Jade McGarr (Guelph, Ont. / St. James Catholic) beat out a bunt single to put runners on the corners.  Sophomore outfielder Kristen Lucas () fouled out as Jennah Perryman made an outstanding catch but Buchanan was able to scamper home with WSU's second run just four batters into the bottom of the first.

UMSL had two runners on in the second on an error and a single by Sara Kern, and Alex Stupek had her second hit of the game with a two-out single in the third.  The Tritons did get on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth as Ryan Logan hit a two-out home run to right field.

The Warriors added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth as Butler smashed an 0-1 pitch over the center field fence for her team-leading 11th round-tripper of the season.

Jennah Perryman had a one-out hit in the sixth.

IN THE CIRCLE

WSU senior Mackenzie Boehler (Saginaw, Mich. / Swan Valley) notched her 17th win of the season in 20 decisions by limiting UMSL to one earned run on five hits in seven innings with a game-high five strikeouts to zero walks.

Hannah Perryman, the all-time NCAA Division II leader in strikeouts (1,725), concluded her collegiate career by surrendering three earned runs on four hits with two strikeouts and zero walks.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Butler went 2-for-3 with two home runs, while Buchanan and McGarr's first inning hits were the only hits by WSU.

LEADING THE OPPOSITION

Stupek went 2-for-3 to lead the Tritons.

UP NEXT

Wayne State will play Maryville at noon (Central time) on Saturday and will need a victory to force an if necessary game against the Saints at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.  The winner of this regional will face the winner of the UIndy regional final between Grand Valley State and Trevecca Nazarene in next week's NCAA Midwest Super Regional.