EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- The 29th-ranked Wayne State University softball team (40-15 overall) let a 2-0 lead slip away and fell 3-2 as No. 9-Southern Indiana (45-12 overall) scored a run in the bottom of the seventh in game one of the NCAA Midwest Super Regionals.  WSU will have to win twice on Friday to advance to the College World Series for the fourth time in program history.  Meanwhile, the Screaming Eagles need just one victory to win the best-of-three series.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Warriors scored twice in the top of the first as freshman catcher Brooke Turkalj (St. Jacobs, Ont.) worked a two-out walk.  Junior outfielder Kristen Lucas (Newmarket, Ont.) smacked a 1-0 offering into left field for a single.  Sophomore first baseman Megan Guitar (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) drove an 0-1 pitch into the right center field gap scoring both runners, with Guitar advancing to third on a wild throw home.

Wayne State starting pitcher Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont.) retired the first two USI batters in the bottom of the first before a hit by pitch and back-to-back walks loaded the bases.  Butler escaped as shortstop Hannan McClounie (Essex, Ont.) took a high chopper and threw to third for a force out.

WSU had runners at second and third with one out in the top of the second as junior second baseman Kylee Barrett (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) had a leadoff single and sophomore designated player Ashley Messina (Troy, Mich.) reached on a sacrifice bunt with a fielding error.  Freshman third baseman Emma Adams (Rockwood, Ont.) advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt, but the next two Warriors were retired.

Turkalj led off the third with a single and was sacrificed to second by Lucas, however the next two Wayne State hitters struck out.

Southern Indiana tied the contest with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third.  Leadoff batter Claire Johnson walked on five pitches, and Lexi Reese followed with a double down the left field line.  Butler knocked down Marleah Fossett's shot up the middle but the only play was to first with Johnson scoring.  Four-time All-GLVC catcher Haley Hodges hit a sacrifice fly to right plating Reese with the tying run.

Messina and Butler each had singles in the fourth, but WSU was unable to regain the lead.

The Warrior defense ended both the fourth and fifth innings with unconventional double plays.  Following a one-out walk in the fourth, USI starting pitcher Jennifer Leonhardt hit into a 3-6 force out but rounded first base too far on the errant throw to first and was tagged out by Barrett.  The next frame, the Screaming Eagles had the first batter reach on a Wayne State miscue, but following a strikeout, the WSU defense turned in a 6-3-5 double play.

McClounie led off the sixth with a bunt single and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Barrett, but the next two Warriors were retired.

In the bottom of the sixth, USI had a bad hop base hit by Fossett and a single by Hodges, but Adams and Guitar completed a 5-3 double play.

WSU went 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh.  Southern Indiana's Mena Fulton ripped an 0-1 pitch down the left field line for a double leading off the bottom of the seventh.  After Leonhardt was ruled out for touching a bunted ball in fair territory, Olivia Clark-Kittleson reached on a bunt singe to put runners on the corners.  Johnson hit a ball up the middle that McClounie gloved and stepped on second and her throw to first just pulled Guitar off the bag allowing Fulton to score the winning run.

IN THE CIRCLE

Butler (24-10) allowed three earned runs on five hits in 6.2 innings.  She struck out three and walked four.  The three earned runs allowed by Butler equalled a season-high.

Leonhardt (28-2) allowed two earned runs on seven hits in seven innings.  She struck out five and walked one.  The seven hits allowed by Leonhardt is the second-most since Feb. 26th.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Seven different WSU batters had hits, with Guitar driving in both runs.  Turkalj reached base twice via a hit and a walk.

LEADING THE SCREAMING EAGLES

Five different USI batters had hits, with Johnson, Hodges and Fulton each reaching twice via a hit and a walk.

UP NEXT

Game two of the best of three series will be played Friday afternoon at the USI Softball Field.  Should the Warriors win game two, the final game of the series will also be played on Friday.