ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The 29th-ranked Wayne State University softball team (39-13 overall) advanced to the finals of the Midwest Regional #1 with a 3-0 triumph at Missouri-St. Louis (40-14 overall) Friday afternoon.  Warrior pitcher Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont.) tossed a no-hitter, the eighth of her career, in facing the minimum 21 batters.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Butler retired the final 17 UMSL batters, including 16 on ground outs with six coming back to her in the circle.

The Tritons had two base runners reach via an error, but both were erased on ground ball double plays.

Erin Walker reached with one out in the top of the first, but a grounder to second baseman Kylee Barrett (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) resulted in Barrett tagging Walker and throwing to first to complete the double play.

UMSL's leadoff batter in the second reached on an error, but the next hitter hit a one-hopper to Butler, who started the 1-6-3 double play.

The Warriors broke through against Triton starter Carly Kingery (24-7) in the bottom of the second.  With two outs, shortstop Hannah McClounie (Essex, Ont.) smacked her third home run of the season on a 2-2 offering.  It was McClounie's second round tripper of the post-season after hitting just one during the regular season.  Last week, McClounie blasted the leadoff pitch in the bottom of the 11th for a 1-0 win over Ferris State in the opening round of the GLIAC Tournament.
 

After throwing 26 pitches in the first two innings combined, Kingery had to throw 27 pitches in the third frame.   Ashley Messina (Troy, Mich.) led off the frame with an infield single.  After pinch-runner Rachelle Clayton (Guelph, Ont.) was erased on a fielder's choice, and a foul out, Allie Buchanan (Cambridge, Ont.) worked a 1-2 count into 3-2 before lacing a single up the middle.  Brooke Turkalj (St. Jacobs, Ont.) was plunked on the next pitch to load the bases.  Kristen Lucas (Newmarket, Ont.) lined a 1-0 offering into center field scoring both Hailey Lazarek (Allen Park, Mich.) and Buchanan.

IN THE CIRCLE

Butler (24-8) tossed her 51st career shutout in blanking the Tritons.  She recorded one strikeout to zero walks.

Kingery allowed three earned runs on six hits.  She struck out five and did not walk a batter.

Andee Tiffee retired all three batters she faced in the bottom of the sixth.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Lucas went 2-for-3 with two RBI, while Turkalj went 1-for-2 and reached via a hit by pitch.

LEADING THE TRITONS

Both Walker and Serena Olson reached via an error.

UP NEXT

Wayne State will play either UMSL or Truman State in Saturday's championship round.  The Tritons and the Bulldogs will play at 5 p.m. Central time today in an elimination game.  TSU defeated Kentucky Wesleyan 11-2 in Friday's first elimination game.