Senior Tori Kniesche struck out 21 batters and Wayne made a four-run first inning stand up as the defending Class C softball champions opened the year with a 4-2 win at Blair on Thursday.
Wayne scored all of their runs in the first frame. Kendall Dorey doubled and scored on an error, Brooklyn Kruse drove home Kayla Fleming with a single, Aliah Schulz singled home Virginia Kniesche and Hope O’Reilly brought Kruse home with a groundout to make it 4-0.
That was all Kniesche would need for offensive support, as she worked around four hits, an error and a hit batter to strike out 21, one short of the state record set by Wayne alumni Molly Hill in 2003.
Dorey, Kniesche Kruse and Schulz all had hits for the 1-0 Blue Devils.
Wayne hosts the Blue Devil Invitational on Saturday at the Summer Sports Complex, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Wayne faces Ord in the opening round of the eight-team tournament. Other first-round matchups include Twin River vs. Highway 91, Arlington vs. Ponca and CCV vs. Pierce.
