ALLENDALE, Mich. -- The Wayne State University softball team (34-24 overall) remained alive in the 2019 NCAA Tournament with a 8-2 victory over Hillsdale College (23-28) Friday afternoon at the GVSU Softball Field.

GAME RECAP
The Warriors scored twice in the top of the first as sophomore second baseman Rainey Psenicka (Guelph, Ont.) had a leadoff single and went to second on a bunt single by senior third baseman Hannah McClounie (Essex, Ont.).  Sophomore shortstop Bryanna Kressler (Kitchener, Ont.) then worked a five-pitch walk to load the bases.  Junior Brooke Turkalj (St. Jacobs, Ont.) plated Psenicka with a fielder's choice.  McClounie scored from third on a pop out to shallow right field to make it 2-0.

WSU extended its lead in the second inning as junior right fielder Rachelle Clayton (Guelph, Ont.) worked a two-out walk and went to third on a single to right by Psenicka.  McClounie's single through the left side scored Clayton.

The Chargers scored once in both the second and third innings to cut the Wayne State advantage to 3-2.

The Warriors nearly batted around in the fifth scoring four times.  Turkalj beat out a two-out slow dribbler up the first base line.  Senior catcher Ashley Messina (Troy, Mich.) followed with an RBI double that was hooking away from the left fielder, then senior pitcher Megan Guitar (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) had an RBI single up the middle and took second on the throw.  Junior first baseman Emma Adams (Rockwood, Ont.) blooped a double into left center that fell between three Chargers.  Redshirt freshman left fielder Emily Dodge (Burlington, Ont.) contributed an RBI double to the fence in left to make it 7-2.

WSU scored once in the top of the seventh for an 8-2 lead.  Adams worked a five-pitch walk with one out and was safe at second on an errant throw after the HC shortstop made a nice stop in the hole.  Clayton's single loaded the bases and Psenicka followed with an RBI single to right.

IN THE CIRCLE

Guitar (21-14) earned the victory after limiting HC to seven hits and two earned runs.  She struck out two and did not walk a batter.

Natalie Walters (9-7), who started and then finished the game, pitched a total of 2.1 innings and surrendered three earned runs on six hits.  She struck out one and walked two.  Camryn Olson hurled the middle 4.2 innings and allowed five earned runs on eight hits, including four doubles.  She struck out two and walked one.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Psenicka and McClounie each had three hits, a run scored and an RBI, while Turkalj and Clayton each had two hits.

LEADING THE CHARGERS

Amanda Marra had two hits.

UP NEXT

Wayne State will face Southern Indiana in an elimination contest at 4:15 p.m. later today.