May 8, 2007

STORYLINES

The Wayne State University softball team (39-15 overall, 15-5 GLIAC/1st) will be making its 13th NCAA tournament appearance this weekend in Romeoville, Ill.

The Warriors have one regional title, 2003, from their first 12 trips to the NCAA's.

See below for a list of WSU's all-time NCAA tournament game scores.

Thursday's contest will be the third between WSU and GVSU on May 10. The teams split in 2003 in Allendale with the Wayne State victory coming in the championship game.

LOOKING BACK AT 2007

Eleven (11) of WSU's 15 losses this season were against teams that qualified for the NCAA tournament.

After starting the season 6-6, the Warriors won eight straight and finished off a 10-1 run with the WSU Invitational title over Ferris State in eight innings.

Wayne State then went 8-6 in its next 14 contests including a home doubleheader split versus Grand Valley.

Following the GVSU setback, WSU won 13 straight including six consecutive shutouts the last weekend of the regular season to earn the GLIAC regular-season title.

The 39 wins is tied-for-second most in school history as the 2003 squad had a 39-15 mark. The 1993 team had a 43-15 mark.

HEAD COACH

Gary Bryce is in his 26th season at the helm of the Wayne State University softball program. He currently ranks 26th on the NCAA softball coaches win list (any division) and is presently seventh among all NCAA Division II softball coaches with 848 victories.

GLIAC HONORS

In addition to Bryce earning his ninth GLIAC Coach of the Year award, junior pitcher Molly Yetman was voted GLIAC Player of the Year (the first for a WSU player in 20 years). Joining Yetman on the All-GLIAC First Team were catcher and outfielder Sarah Berry. Selected to the All-GLIAC Second Team was first baseman Lindsey Perry. Named to the All-GLIAC Honorable Mention squad were outfielder Meredith Boxberger and shortstop Lisa Seymour.

WSU NCAA GAMES TO AIR ON TEAMLINE

All Wayne State University NCAA softball games will be available for free on the internet at Teamline. Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations Jeff Weiss and assistant athletic trainer Katie Lang will call the games.

Wayne State University Postseason History

1983 (Third Place) -- NCAA Division II West Regional in Northridge, Calif.
May 13 Cal State-Chico 1, Wayne State 0
Cal State-Northridge 4, Wayne State 0

1984 (Second Place) -- NCAA Division II Central Regional in Akron, Ohio
May 11 Wayne State 4, Cal-State-Chico 1
Akron 1, Wayne State 0 (11)
May 12 Wayne State 4, Akron 3
Akron 11, Wayne State 2

1986 (Third Place) -- NCAA Division II Central Regional in Detroit, Mich.
May 9 Augustana 9, Wayne State 2
Northeast Missouri State 1, Wayne State 0

1988 (Fourth Place) -- NCAA Division II Mid-Atlantic Regional in Bloomsburg, Pa.
May 7 Augustana 1, Wayne State 0
Bloomsburg 3, Wayne State 1 (10)

1990 (Fourth Place) -- NCAA Division II South Quarterfinal in Lakeland, Fla.
May 12 Missouri Southern 3, Wayne State 2 (12)
Barry 8, Wayne State 3

1992 (Third Place) -- NCAA Division II Central Regional in Detroit, Mich.
May 9 Wayne State 3, South Carolina-Spartanburg 0
Saginaw Valley State 6, Wayne State 1
May 10 Florida Southern 5, Wayne State 3

1993 (Second Place) -- NCAA Division II Central Regional in Joplin, Mo.
May 15 Wayne State 1, Pittsburg State 0
Wayne State 7, Florida Southern 3
May 16 Championship
Florida Southern 3, Wayne State 0
Florida Southern 5, Wayne State 2

1994 (Fourth Place) -- NCAA Division II No. 6 Regional in Warrensburg, Mo.
May 6 Central Missouri State 3, Wayne State 2
Pittsburg State 7, Wayne State 6 (11)

1996 (Third Place) -- NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional in Detroit, Mich.
May 10 Ashland 6, Wayne State 1
Wisconsin-Parkside 12, Wayne State 3 (6)

2002 (Fourth Place) -- NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional in Edwardsville, Ill.
May 9 West Virginia Wesleyan 4, Wayne State 3 (9)
Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 1, Wayne State 0

2003 (First Place) -- NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional in Allendale, Mich.
May 8 Wayne State 1, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 0
May 9 Wayne State 2, Grand Valley State 0
May 10 Grand Valley State 2, Wayne State 0
May 10 Championship
Wayne State 1, Grand Valley State 0

2003 (Seventh Place) -- NCAA Division II Final Eight in Salem, Ore.
May 15 California-Davis 9, Wayne State 0 (5)
May 16 St. Mary's (Tx.) 2, Wayne State 0

2006 (Seventh Place) -- NCAA Division Great Lakes Regional in Edwardsville, Ill.
May 11 Southern Indiana 7, Wayne State 0
May 12 Gannon 4, Wayne State 1