DETROIT -- The seventh-ranked Wayne State University softball team (50-11 overall) advanced to the NCAA Division II Midwest Super Regional next weekend (May 21-22) with a 5-0 triumph over Saginaw Valley in the "if necessary" championship game Sunday afternoon at the WSU Softball Stadium.

The Warriors snapped a scoreless tie with a four-run third inning.  Sophomore second baseman Lauren Histed (Shelby Twp., Mich. / Utica) started the rally with a leadoff single to right center.  She advanced to second on a ground out and was safe at third on a  fielder's choice.  Sophomore third baseman Rebecca Stanley (Waterloo, Ont. / Waterloo C.I.) had an RBI single to center putting WSU ahead 1-0.  Sophomore first baseman Becca Ryan (Westland, Mich. / Dearborn Divine Child) followed with an RBI single up the middle.

Following a ground out for the second out, redshirt freshman catcher Brittany Omelanchuk (Brooklin, Ont. / Wilson S.S.) delivered a two-run single to right center scoring Stanley and Ryan.

After SVSU stranded a runner at third in the bottom of the third, WSU tallied one run in the fourth.  Histed reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to third on a double to right center by sophomore right fielder Alison Allen (Redford, Mich. / Farmington Hills Mercy).  Senior shortstop Jaci Banton (Richmond Hill, Ont. / Cardinal Carter) followed with an RBI single right center scoring Histed.

WSU senior pitcher Casey Hanes (Richmond, Va. / Douglas Freeman) retired the Cardinals in order in the fourth, but gave up a leadoff hit in the fifth.  Back-to-back strikeouts preceded a hit by pitch and a pop out to end the frame.

Saginaw Valley had two runners on base in the sixth on back-to-back one out singles by Ashley Jordan and Jillian Peterson.  Hanes recorded a ground out and a strikeout to end the threat.

Hanes retired SVSU 1-2-3 in the seventh for her 40th win of the season (40-6).

Omelanchuk went 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Stanley and Ryan each had two hits, an RBI and a run scored.

Wayne State will host Ashland University in the NCAA Division II Midwest Super Region on Friday (May 21) and Saturday (May 22) in a best 2-of-3 series with the winner advancing to the College World Series.