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DETROIT -- The seventh-ranked Wayne State University Warrior softball squad (22-4 overall, 2-0 GLIAC) finally began league play Tuesday with two home wins over GLIAC rival Hillsdale College (4-10 overall, 0-6 GLIAC) after having the first three conference dates postponed.

Redshirt freshman pitcher Lyndsay Butler (Cambridge, Ont. / Centennial C.V.I.) was the star of game one recording her seventh shutout of the season and improving to 10-3 by striking out 13 Charger batters.  She allowed just two hits (a two-out sixth inning single by Ainsley Ellison, and leadoff single in the seventh by Jessica Knepper) before striking out the final three HC hitters to end the contest.

WSU pounded out six singles and a double by Jade McGarr (Guelph, Ont. / St. James Catholic), one of her two hits in the contest, off HC hurler Sarah Grunert (0-3).  The Warriors tallied singles runs in the third, fourth and sixth innings.

Shannon Hilton (Gilford, Ont. / Bradford) worked a nine-pitch one-out walk in the third, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by McGarr and scored as Logan White (Brantford, Ont. / Johnson C.V.I.) laced a single through the left side.

The following inning Emily Bryce (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester Adams) had a leadoff single, and pinch-runner Catherine Rayos (Warren, Mich. / Mott) advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Julie Ingratta (Markham, Ont. / St. Thomas of Villanova College).  Emily Cava (Oakville, Ont. / Cardinal Leger S.S.) then singled up the middle scoring Rayos.

After leading the bases loaded in the fifth, Wayne State added an insurance run in the sixth.  Pinch-hitter Ali Lince (St. Clair Shores, Mich. / Lakeview) worked a two-out walk and pinch-runner Devin Hentschel (Wyoming, Mich. / Rogers) went to second on a single by McGarr.  White then drove in her second runner of the game with a single up the middle.  Again the Warriors left the bases loaded, stranding a total of 10 runners in six innings.

GAME TWO

Game two started much differently as the Chargers scored after just two batters in the bottom of the first on a single by Ellison and an RBI double by Bekah Kastning.

WSU scored twice in the third on four hits and a Hillsdale error to take a 2-1 advantage.  McGarr and White each singled to start the frame.  A ground out advanced both runners, before McGarr scored on a passed ball with White coming around to score on an errant throw by the catcher to the pitcher covering home plate.

The Chargers tallied the equalizer in the bottom of the fifth as Danielle Garceau worked a two-out walk, and scored as Ellison doubled down the left field line.  After an intentional walk to Kastning, Butler replaced Briana Lee (Canton, Mich. / Salem) in the circle and struck out Knepper to end the inning.

The Warriors had two reach in the sixth with two outs but couldn't push across the go-ahead run.  Each team left a runner on base in the seventh.

Ingratta reached to lead off the eighth as the HC shortstop dropped a pop up around the second base bag.  Hentschel was safe as her sacrifice bunt was misplayed by the Charger first baseman.  Both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, then Shelby Spano (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Stevenson) drilled a two-run double to left center plating both Ingratta and Hentschel.

Butler retired the side in order in the bottom of the eighth to notch her second win of the day.

Lee allowed two earned runs on five hits in 4.2 innings with eight strikeouts and three walks.  Butler (11-3) recorded five strikeouts in the 11 batters she faced with just one Hillsdale hitter reaching on a fielding error.

Sarah Klopfer (2-5) went the distance in the circle for HC surrendering four runs (two earned) on 11 hits with no strikeouts and no walks.

McGarr, Butler and Spano each had two hits in game two for the Warriors.

Wayne State continues GLIAC play with conference doubleheaders Saturday at Tiffin (1 pm) and Sunday at Ohio Dominican (Noon).