ROSEMONT, ILL. - The No. 5 ranked University of Missouri-St. Louis softball team picked up two more wins on Saturday at the D2 Midwest Region Dome Invitational, hosted by Lewis. The Tritons defeated No. 15 ranked Wayne State (Mich.), 11-1, before outlasting Grand Valley State, 1-0, in a pitcher's duel.
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The Tritons (12-1) will wrap up tournament play tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. against Saginaw Valley State. Â
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UMSL 11, Wayne State 1Senior
Brianna Butler delivered two home runs and recorded five RBIs to help the Tritons to the win, while sophomore
Alex Stupek went 4-for-5 at the plate with three RBIs.
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The Tritons out-hit the Warriors, 13-7, in the rematch of last year's NCAA Midwest Super Regional, in which Wayne State won two out of three games in St. Louis to advance to the World Series. Seniors
Madison Zbaraschuk and
Katie Wood added two hits each, while senior
Jena Boudreau scored three runs.
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Butler knocked out a two-run shot in the first for a quick 2-0 lead, while an RBI double from Stupek and an RBI single from Zbaraschuk in the fourth inning put UMSL on top 4-0. Wayne State scored its lone run in the bottom of the frame.
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Stupek then homered in the sixth inning with sophomore
Sara Kern on base to make it 6-1 before a five-run seventh inning, which included a three-run long ball from Butler.
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Junior
Hannah Perryman threw the complete game with four strikeouts, improving to 5-1 in circle. She also collected her 58
th career victory, tying Jill Stockdale (1993-95) for first on the career charts.
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UMSL 1, Grand Valley State 0Senior
Hannah Wessels drove in the game-winning run with an RBI double in the fourth inning, while senior
Brittni Chapman tossed the complete game four-hit shutout.
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UMSL was limited to just three hits, Wessels double and two singles by Zbaraschuk.
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The Lakers threatened to score first in the second inning with a pair of lead off singles, but Chapman retired three straight on a groundout.
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Zbaraschuk delivered a one-out single in the fourth with junior
Brandi Kiel coming in to pinch run. Kiel then advanced to second on a wild pitch before crossing home on Wessels double.
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