Missouri-St. Louis defeated Wayne State 18-2 in five innings Saturday afternoon at the Emporia State 6-State Classic Softball Tournament in Emporia, Kansas.  It was the season opener for 1-0 Tritons while the Wildcats fall to 1-4 on the season.
            UMSL jumped out quickly, scoring six runs in the first inning.
            Wayne State scored both of their runs in the second inning to make the score 6-2.  Emilee Marth led off the inning with single up the middle and scored on Dylan Sweeney's double.  Sweeney later scored when freshman catcher Haylee Weber singled to right field.
            The Tritons put the game out of reach with eight runs in the second inning for a 14-2 lead and added two runs each in the third and fourth innings to close the scoring in the 18-2 win.
            Wayne State had four hits in the contest.  Sweeney's double was the lone extra base hit with an RBI while Weber added an RBI single.  Marth and pinch-hitter Masyn Bunnell each singled in the contest.
            Junior starter Grace Lucka suffered the pitching loss in 1/3 inning of work.  Senior Callie Carraher worked one inning of relief with sophomore Sophie Stuart pitching the final 2 2/3 innings.
            Wayne State faces host Emporia State Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. in another game at the Emporia State 6-State Classic.