Box Score Huntsville, Ala. -- The Wayne State University softball team (1-0 overall) began its 2014 season in grand style Friday afternoon defeating seventh-ranked Indianapolis 3-0 behind a 13-strikeout performance of redshirt freshman hurler Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont. / Centennial C.V.I.).

Butler, who was injured after the first week of the 2013 campaign, showed no ill effects of a 12-month layoff as she allowed six hits and one walk in recording the shutout.

After Butler retired all three Greyhounds in the top of the first, the Warriors scored a run in the bottom of the frame.  Senior outfielder Logan White (Brantford, Ont. / Johnson C.V.I.) had a one-out bunt single, moved to second on a walk to Butler and both runners advanced on a ground out by junior catcher Emily Bryce (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester Adams).  With two outs, sophomore third baseman Jade McGarr (Guelph, Ont. / St. James Catholic) singled to left plating White.

In the circle, Butler struck out the side in the second and retired two more on strikes in the third.  Taylor Russell ended the perfect game leading off the fourth with a single and UIndy had two on as the next batter reached on an error.  Butler proceeded to get a pop out, and back-to-back ground outs to end the threat.

Two of Indianapolis' first three hitters in the fifth singled, but Butler again rose to the occasion as she recorded two strikeouts sandwiched around an intentional walk.

The Greyounds again forced Butler into a Houdini act in the sixth as the first three batters reached to load the bases.  A strike out, a force out at home and another strikeout ended the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, sophomore shortstop Gabby Williams (South Lyon, Mich.) had a two-out infield single.  Pinch-hitter Shelby Spano (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Stevenson) followed with a double to left.  Senior second baseman Julie Ingratta (Markham, Ont. / St. Thomas of Villanova College), returning after taking a year off from softball, followed with a two-run single to right scoring both Williams and pinch-runner Devin Hentschel (Wyoming, Mich. / Rogers).  Hentschel, a freshman, had started in right field but was relieved for the pinch-hitting Spano, then returned to the lineup following Spano's extra-base hit.

Butler ended the contest with three consecutive strikeouts.

Each team left eight runners on base, while WSU held a slim 7-6 edge in hits.

Williams was the lone Warrior with a multiple-hit affair going 2-for-3.  She had just one multiple-hit game last year (April 20th vs. Malone).

Butler struck out 13 of the 29 batters she faced for her second career shutout in just her fourth game on the mound.  Last season Butler faced Indianapolis at the Charger Chillout and allowed eight runs (seven earned) in 4.3 innings.

No Greyhound had more than one hit in the contest.

UIndy hurler Morgan Foley, a 2013 All-Midwest Region First Team by both the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and the 2013 GLVC Freshman of the Year, allowed three earned runs on seven hits in her six innings of work.

WSU continues opening day with a 6 p.m. Eastern contest against Union University out of Jackson, Tenn.