ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The 10th-ranked Wayne State University softball team (50-8 overall) won both games in Saturday's Championship Round of the NCAA Midwest Regional #2 against Maryville University (39-16).  WSU won the opener 8-5 and claimed the nightcap 1-0 in eight innings on a walk-off sacrifice fly.

GAME ONE RECAP

After losing 1-0 to Maryville on Friday, the Warriors needed a solid start offensively to Saturday's championship game and they didn't disappoint.  Junior pitcher Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont. / Centennial C.V.I.) drilled the second pitch of the game off the top of the right-centerfield fence for her third home run in two games.  Junior centerfielder Allie Buchanan (Cambridge, Ont. / Galt C.I.) advanced all the way to second on an errant throw, and scored on a two-out single through the left side by senior designated player Shelby Spano (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Stevenson).  After freshman Hannah McClounie (Essex, Ont. / St. Anne Catholic) worked an eight-pitch walk, sophomore second baseman Kylee Barrett (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) reached on a sun-aided double to left center that plated a pair of runs.  Senior catcher Ali Lince (St. Clair Shores, Mich. / Lakeview) singled down the left field line to score Barrett with WSU's fifth run of the frame.

WSU added to its lead with a pair of runs in the third.  Sophomore Kristen Lucas (Newmarket, Ont. / Mulock S.S.) and Spano had back-to-back singles to lead off the frame.  McClounie reached on a sacrifice bunt, before Lince's sacrifice fly plated Lucas with pinch-runner Hailey Lazarek (Allen Park, Mich.) scoring on a throwing error to make it 7-0.

Butler retired the first seven Saint batters until Bri Livingston tripled as Lucas was unable to make a diving catch in the bottom of the third.  Ashley Marks had a one-out infield single on a high chopper to score MU's first run, while Nikki Taylor had a two-out RBI single.  A Warrior miscue plated the Saints third run prior to Krystal Rock's two-run single.

Wayne State scored its final run in the top of the fourth as Buchanan worked an eight-pitch walk and senior third baseman Jade McGarr (Guelph, Ont. / St. James Catholic) reached on a bunt single with Buchanan scoring on an errant throw.

Maryville had back-to-back leadoff singles in the bottom of the fifth by Courtney Ferguson and Taylor.  After a fielder's choice, Alex Flasch singled to load the bases.  Rock then lined into a double play to end the inning.

Butler retired the side in order in the sixth and the leadoff batter in the seventh before a double to left center by Ferguson.  After Taylor reached on an error, pinch-runner Sheridon Sprague was thrown out trying to steal second and pitcher Wendy Macias grounded out to her counterpart to end the game.

IN THE CIRCLE

Butler (29-5) allowed five runs (two earned) on eight hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

Wendy Macias (22-4) surrendered eight runs (two earned) on eight hits with three strikeouts to two walks.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Spano had two hits, while six other Warriors had one hit.

LEADING THE OPPOSITION

Ferguson and Taylor each had two hits for the Saints.

GAME TWO RECAP

In the "if necessary" winner take all game, both WSU senior hurler Mackenzie Boehler (Saginaw, Mich. / Swan Valley) and MU pitcher Nikki Taylor were dynamite for seven innings of scoreless ball.

The Saints had a one-out single in the first by Marks, but Boehler retired the next 10 in a row before a two-out walk in the fourth to Macias.  Boehler then set down the next 11 Maryville batters before a two-out single in the eighth by Bri Livingston.

The Warriors did not fare any better offensively against Taylor as she retired the first seven WSU hitters before Lince reached on a Saint error.

Lucas reached on a one-out walk in the fourth but a double play grounder ended that frame.  Butler laced a one-out single to center in the sixth for WSU's first hit of the game, but the next two batters were retired.

McClounie garnered WSU's second hit with a two-out infield double in the seventh as the MU second baseman called for the pop up, lost the ball in the sun and the shortstop tried to make a running catch behind the circle.

In the bottom of the eighth, Lince ripped a 1-0 offering up the middle for a base hit.  Pinch-runner Megan Guitar (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior first Gabby Williams (South Lyon, Mich.) before Butler was intentionally walked.  Buchanan hit a grounder to third but her throw to the shortstop covering third was off the mark and Guitar was safe.  McGarr then smacked a 1-1 pitch down the left field line which was caught, but Guitar was able to scamper home with the game's only run.

IN THE CIRCLE

Boehler (17-3) won her second elimination game of the NCAA Regionals by tossing a two-hit shutout.  She struck out seven and walked one while facing just 27 batters in the eight-inning affair.

Taylor (16-11) allowed just three hits and one unearned run with four strikeouts to two walks.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

After catching 40 innings in just over 48 hours and going 1-for-8 against Maryville in the tournament, Lince started the winning rally with a solid single up the middle leading off the bottom of the eighth.  McGarr notched her team-leading 11th game-winning RBI of the season.

LEADING THE OPPOSITION

Marks and Livingston each went 1-for-3 for the Saints.

UP NEXT

Wayne State will host the NCAA Midwest Super Regionals on Wednesday and Thursday at the WSU Softball Stadium.  More information will be posted in the coming days.