BENTONVILLE, ARK. – Senior Brianna Butler and sophomore Alex Stupek each recorded a two-out RBI hit in the top of the seventh inning to help the No. 13 ranked University of Missouri-St. Louis softball team rally for a 5-4 win over Fort Hays State on Friday as the Tritons opened play in the Arkansas-Monticello 8-State Classic.
 
After UMSL opened the seventh inning with two outs, senior Katie Rutledge drew a walk and scored on Stupek's triple, while Butler followed suite on the following at-bat for the game-winner. UMSL improves to 6-1 on the season with the win.
 
It was a back and forth game for the Tritons and Tigers who swapped leads throughout the contest. Fort Hays State (0-2) got on the board in the first inning with one run before senior Katie Wood knotted the score in the second with an RBI single, scoring senior Madison Zbaraschuk, who led off with a double.
 
The Tigers answered back in the bottom of the second with another single run for the 2-1 advantage that stood until the fifth when UMSL plated two runs on two outs for the 3-2 lead. Senior Katie Rutledge knocked out her third homerun of the season, while Butler used an RBI single to score Stupek, who reached with a double.
 
Fort Hays re-took the lead in the sixth with two runs before UMSL's final rally for the win. The Tigers left the tying run at third in the bottom of the seventh after a lead off double.
 
Butler finished the game 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs, while Stupek tallied two hits. UMSL recorded with eight hits to the Tigers' seven.
 
Senior Brittni Chapman improved to 4-0 in the circle, garnering the win in six innings of relief work. She allowed two unearned runs on three hits, while striking out five.
 
The Tritons continue tournament play tomorrow with games against Minnesota-Mankato (9 a.m.) and East Central Oklahoma (3 p.m.).