Box Score Missouri-St. Louis 2 Wayne State 1

            Despite out-hitting Missouri-St. Louis 9-2, Wayne State closed the Emporia State Softball Tournament Sunday afternoon with a 2-1 loss to the Tritons.  It was the sixth one-run loss early in the season for the Wildcats, now 3-9 overall and 2-4 in the Emporia State Tournament, while Missouri-St. Louis improves to 5-7.
            All of the scoring in the contest came in the third inning.
            WSC had a strong scoring threat in the second inning, loading the bases with no outs following singles by Michaela Smith and Jenna Etmans to go with a walk to Madison Gomez.  However, the Wildcats could not score a run.
            The Wildcats then used a two-out rally in the top of the third to score their only run of the game as Kamryn Sparks singled and scored on a double to left center field by Smith.
            In the bottom of the third, Missouri-St. Louis used two Wildcat errors and a walk to help score both runs as the Tritons took a 2-1 lead.
            WSC made a threat to tie the score in the top of the seventh with one out singles from Kortney Buresh and Kim Vidlak, but Missouri-St. Louis got a fly ball and ground out to end the game for a 2-1 win over the Wildcats.
            Wayne State had nine hits in the game while holding UMSL to just two.  Smith was 2 for 3 with a double and single while Sparks and Buresh each singled twice.  Vidlak, Etmans and Riley Holmberg each added singles.
            Sophomore starter Sloan Cooksey (0-4) was tagged with the loss despite a complete game effort in the circle.  She gave up just two hits and two runs (both unearned) with seven strikeouts and five walks.
            Wayne State resumes play on Tuesday, March 16^th with a doubleheader at Truman State in Missouri starting at 12 p.m.