The AU softball team lost its opening game at the 2014 GLIAC Tournament, 4-3 to Wayne State. The loss sends the Eagles into a late afternoon game against the loser of the Saginaw Valley State-Walsh game. This is a double elimination tournament and the loser of that second game will be out of the tournament. The GLIAC Tournament is being played at Findlay.
AU is the seventh seed in the tournament. Wayne State is the second seed and no team in this event is hotter than the Warriors (38-9). Friday's win gives WSU a 3-0 record against Ashland this season.
AU (25-17) fell behind, 3-0 in the first inning when WSU pitcher Lyndsay Butler slammed a three-run homer. The Eagles clawed their way back into the game, scoring once in the fourth inning and twice in the fifth inning.
The Eagles were able to get runners to second and third with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, but failed to push a run across home plate.
In the bottom of the seventh, Briana Lee led off with an infield single. Devin Hentschel pinch ran for Lee. Emily Cava was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. At that point, AU starter and loser Brittany Flanigan (5-4) left the circle in favor of Amber McDermott.
Logan White greeted McDermott with a single to load the bases. WSU scored the winning run when Butler reached on an infield error, which brought home Hentschel.
Butler, now 19-4, toiled for seven innings and allowed three runs on eight hits. She walked two and struck out nine. Butler shut out the Eagles at Brookside Park on Apr. 19. The WSU hurler is the 2014 GLIAC pitcher of the year.
Center fielder Taylor Menhart and designated player Sarah Alley both went 2-for-4. Menhart had a double. Menhart, Alley and Prince drove in runs.
White was 3-for-4 for the Warriors.
Flanigan went six innings and allowed four runs on seven hits. She walked two and struck out one.
The conference office announced the 2014 All-GLIAC Teams on Friday. Menhart and Alley were AU's first team selections. Second baseman Cayla Seidler was named to the second team. Infielders Bri Buckley and Jamie Weber were named to the honorable mention list.
The GLIAC Teams are selected by the conference coaches.
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