Kissimmee, Fla. -- The Wayne State University softball squad (8-10 overall) recorded an 8-4 triumph over the Stonehill Skyhawks (2-7 overall) Friday afternoon at the Rebel Spring Games.

Stonehill took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a leadoff triple and an RBI single.

WSU answered with a three-run second inning.  Sophomore Brittany Omelanchuk (Brooklin, Ont. / Wilson S.S.) had a leadoff single and advanced to second on a one-out single by freshman second baseman Nikki Fulton (Stratford, Ont. / St. Michael Catholic S.S.).  Freshman left fielder Logan White (Brantford, Ont. / Johnson C.V.I.) singled to load the bases.  After Omelanchuk was erased on a fielder's choice, freshman Amanda Burnard (Canton, Mich. / Plymouth) had a two-run single to right field.  Histed later scored on a Skyhawk error.

The Warriors tacked on three more runs in the fourth.  Burnard reached on an error with one out, and pinch-runner Makelle Barski (Trenton, Mich.) moved to second on another Stonehill miscue.  Following a pop out, junior first baseman Rebecca Ryan (Westland, Mich. / Dearborn Divine Child) had an RBI double, and Omelanchuk added a two-run single.

Stonehill scored once in the fifth on a double and an RBI single, and once in the sixth on a leadoff home run, which cut the WSU lead to 6-3.

Wayne State responded with two runs in the top of the seventh.  Ryan singled leading off the frame, and Omelanchuk reached on an error.  After a pop out and fielder's choice, the Warriors had runners on the corners and White delivered a two-run triple.

The Skyhawks plated one in the seventh on a double and back-to-back singles.

Freshman Lauren McLaughlin (Oakville, Ont. / Holy Trinity) improved to 5-3 by allowing three earned runs on six hits in five innings of work.  She struck out one and did not walk a batter.

Junior Sam Cain (Taylor, Mich. / Kennedy) earned her first collegiate save by limiting Stonehill to one run in the final two innings.  Cain had two strikeouts and one walk while allowing three hits.

Both Ryan and Omelanchuk had three-hit affairs, while Omelanchuk, White and Burnard each drove in two runs.

Wayne State will conclude its participation in the 2011 Rebel Spring Games on Saturday with contests against #29-C.W. Post at 1 p.m. and 14th-ranked Augustana of South Dakota at 3 p.m.





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