DETROIT -- The Wayne State softball team improved to 10-8 in the GLIAC and 18-18 overall after sweeping GLIAC-leading Ashland in a Tuesday doubleheader. The Warriors took game one 6-5 in dramatic fashion and poured on the offense to win 12-3 in the night cap.

Sophomore second baseman Nikki Fulton (Stratford, Ont./St. Michael Catholic S.S.) went a combined 5-for-7 with four RBIs, including the two tieing RBIs in game one.

In game one, the Warriors got to the Eagles (30-10, 14-6 GLIAC) ace Emlyn Knerem early. Fulton welcomed the GLIAC's winningest pitcher with a solo shot over the wall in left field to give WSU a 1-0 lead. Knerem would retire the next 10 straight Warriors, however.

Meanwhile, the Eagles tied the game in the top of the second with a RBI double from Tawna Garver, and AU took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third on an RBI single from Taylor Menhart.

The Warriors would tie the game at two in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI double from senior first baseman Rebecca Ryan (Westland, Mich./Dearborn Divine Child), scoring senior third baseman Alison Allen (Redfield, Mich,/Farmington Hills Mercy), who had reached base on an error.

AU regained the advantage with a two-run fifth, cashing in on two WSU errors, both occurring with two outs in the inning.

The Warriors would draw to within 4-3, thanks to a solo home run from Ryan in the bottom of the sixth. The Eagles would answer with a solo shot of their own in the top of the seventh to make the lead 5-3.

Wayne State would score three times in the bottom of the seventh inning to earn the 6-5 victory. It started with freshman center fielder Shannon Hilton's (Gilford, Ont./Brantford) lead-off double. Senior infielder Rebecca Stanley (Waterloo, Ont./Waterloo C.I.) then drew a walk and junior outfielder Makelle Barski (Trenton, Mich.) came in to run for Stanley. Senior shortstop Lauren Histed (Shelby Twp., Mich./Utica) laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move the runners over to second and third. Then, Fulton drove in both the runs on a double to left field, tieing the game at five. Sophomore left fielder Logan White (Brantford, Ont./Johnson C.V.I) reached first on an error, and Fulton advanced to third. Fulton would then score on a walk-off sacrifice fly from Allen.

In the late game, the Eagles got on the board first in the bottom of the first thanks to a three-run blast from Franki Gironda, but that was the only scoring they would get as freshman hurler Briana Lee allowed just two hits the remainder of the game. Lee would have plenty of run support later in the game thanks to timely hitting.

The Warriors would send 10 batters to the plate and score six runs off Ashland starter Amber McDermott in the top of the fourth and never look back. Hilton led off the inning with a double. Histed singled up the middle to score Hilton from second, and move freshman outfielder Shelby Spano (Sterling Heights, Mich./Stevenson), who reached on a walk, over to third. Fulton would fly out, scoring Spano.  White singled up the middle to score Histed from third. Allen smashed an RBI double center to bring home White. Allen would score on an error after the Ashland left fielder misplayed a single by junior outfielder Stephanie Foreman (Cambridge, Ont./Preston). Hilton would add an RBI single, scoring Ryan.

WSU added two more runs in the top of the fifth, thanks to doubles from Fulton and Allen making the lead 8-3.

The Warriors got more insurance in the top of the seventh, scoring four times. An RBI ground out from Allen and a three-run blast from Foreman secured the 12-3 victory. The Warriors out-hit the Eagles 20-4 in game two.

Wayne State will begin a six-game road trip on Friday with a doubleheader at Saginaw Valley.