Wayne State Advances to D-II Softball Championships After 7-1 Victory over Ashland Midwest Super Regional
Release courtesy of the WSU Sports Information Department
DETROIT, Mich. - The seventh-ranked Wayne State University (52-11 overall) advanced to the Division II College World Series with a 7-1 triumph over visiting Ashland University (36-13 overall) in the second game of the best two-of-three Midwest Super Regional at the WSU Softball Stadium.
WSU will play at 6 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, May 27 vs.
either Hawaii Pacific or Cal State-Chico.
The Warriors were the visiting in the tournament format which has
the higher seed home for game No. 1, with the lower seed serving as
home team in game No. 2.
Junior Rachel Spaccarotelli (Ray, Mich. / Romeo) led
off the top of the third with a walk. Pinch-runner
Makelle Barski (Trenton, Mich.) advanced to second on a
sacrifice bunt by sophomore second baseman Lauren Histed
(Shelby Twp., Mich. / Utica). On a 3-1 offering from AU
starter Emlyn Knerem (23-5), sophomore right fielder Alison
Allen (Redford, Mich. / Farmington Hills Mercy) laced a
double to right center scoring Barski.
The Eagles tied the contest in the bottom of the fourth on a
one-out double by Alyssa Kelley.
Wayne State responded by scoring five runs, all with two outs, in
the top of the fifth. Freshman center fielder Steph
Foreman (Cambridge, Ont. / Preston) had a leadoff single and
advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Barski. Following a
ground out, Allen drilled a 3-0 pitch, that was supposed to be ball
four of an intentional walk, up the middle but AU second baseman
Carrie Hosier made a diving stop to keep the ball in the
infield. Senior shortstop Jaci Banton (Richmond
Hill, Ont. / Cardinal Carter ) hit a laser that bounced to the left
field fence on an 0-2 pitch scoring both runners and putting WSU
ahead 3-1. Sophomore third baseman Rebecca Stanley
(Waterloo, Ont. / Waterloo C.I.) battled until a 3-2 count before
smacking a two-run home run over the center field fence.
Sophomore first baseman Becca Ryan (Westland, Mich. /
Dearborn Divine Child) completed the back-to-back four-baggers with
a solo shot over the left field fence.
With a five-run cushion, WSU senior pitcher Casey Hanes
(Richmond, Va. / Douglas Freeman) retired nine of the final 11
Ashland batters for her 42nd win (42-6)of the season. Hanes
tied the WSU career mark with her 72nd victory, in only two
seasons.
Foreman scored the game's final run in the sixth. She
reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to second on a wild pitch
and scored on a pinch-hit single by senior Nicole Abel
(Kitchener, Ont. / St. Mary's).
WSU out-hit Ashland 9-3, and led in extra-base hits 4-2.
Hanes struck out eight and walked two while allowing three hits
and one earned run. Knerem went 4.2 innings in the circle and
surrendered six earned runs on eight hits with one walk and one
strikeouts. Logan Hursey pitched the final 2.1 innings
allowing one unearned run on a hit with four strikeouts.
