ST. LOUIS – The University of Missouri-St. Louis softball team opened its 2024 season with an 18-2 win in five innings over Wayne State (Neb.) on Saturday afternoon at the Trusler Sports Complex in Emporia, Kan.

The Tritons (1-0) pounded out 17 hits in the contest and were led by the bottom part of the lineup as they combined to go 9-for-13 with three home runs, 13 RBI and eight runs scored.

After retiring the Wildcats (1-4) in order in the top of the first, UMSL's offense went to work. sending 11 batters to the dish in the bottom of the inning scoring six runs on four hits. Simia Spahiev and Jamie Widule had the big hits in the inning as Spahiev drove in two with a two-run single to left and Widule capped the inning with a two-run double to right.

Wayne State got its two runs in the top of the second courtesy of an RBI double from Dylan Sweeney and an RBI single from Haylee Weber.

The Tritons continued to swing hot bats in the second frame scoring eight runs on eight hits highlighted by Katie Schaake's grand slam to center and May Pasqualini's two run single back up the middle.

UMSL added two more in the third as Gwyn Miller led off the inning with a home run to left and Schaake drove in Rylie Buchanan with a double to center. The Tritons final two runs came in the fourth on Spahiev's two-run home run to left.

That was all the run support that Ashley Borowitz needed as she allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits with five strikeouts in five innings pitched to pick up her first win of the season.

UMSL had 11 players with at least one hit in the contest and was led by McKenzie Lamos with three while Spahiev, Miller, Widule and Schaake had two hits apiece. Spahiev and Schaake each drove in five runs.

The Tritons are back in action on Sunday taking on the University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) at 10 a.m. followed by a game against Concordia-St. Paul at 12:15 p.m.