North Stonington — Sam Muller pitched a four-hitter as ninth-seeded Wheeler beat No. 24 Shepaug Valley 6-1 on Tuesday in the first round of the CIAC Class S softball tournament.

The Lions will play at No. 8 Norwich Tech in the second round at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Muller struck out eight with one walk and allowed an unearned run. Lena Curland singled and doubled and Raven Houck had two hits and scored twice for Wheeler (15-5). 

In other first-round games:

• Daria Stifels singled home Madison Bodley in the bottom of the seventh as No. 8 Norwich Tech rallied from an 8-4 deficit to beat No. 25 Abbott Tech 9-8 in Class S. Bodley's three-run double had tied the score. Casey Gervais reached base four times, including a bunt that loaded the bases in the seventh, and Bodley was 2-for-3 with four RBI for Norwich Tech (18-5). 

• No. 10 Stonington got off to an explosive start, scoring 10 runs in the first inning en route to a 16-1 win over No. 23 Wolcott in a Class M game called after six innings due to the mercy rule. Mallory Kane led the Bears (18-5) by going 4-for-5 and scoring three runs while winning pitcher Trinity Lennon was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI and Abby Blanchard was 3-for-3 and scored three runs. Stonington will play at No. 7 Ellington in Wednesday's second round.

• Kazi Walker pitched a three-hitter as No. 16 Waterford defeated No. 17 Northwestern Regional 8-2 in Class M. Walker walked one and struck out eight for the Lancers (16-7), who visit No. 1 St. Joseph in Wednesday's second round. Sara Buscetto led the offense with three hits, two RBI two runs and three stolen bases while Avery Kosma had two hits, a run and an RBI, Lili Stoddard had two hits, Ciana Chiappone scored three runs and Claire Hurley and Shea Spellman each had RBI doubles in the third inning.

• No. 5 Norwich Free Academy broke things open by scoring eight runs in the fourth inning, beating No. 28 Shelton, 18-4, in Class LL. Brooke Gottshall had a single, double, three-run home run and four RBI and Shea Gendron went 3-for-3, scored three runs and drove in four for the Wildcats (19-5), who host No. 12 Conard in Wednesday's second round. Sara Cote added a double, triple and three RBI, Jordan Nute had two hits and an RBI, and Beth Fleming had a double and two RBI.

• Lauren Card of No. 23 North Haven pitched a three-hitter in a 3-1 win over No. 10 East Lyme in Class L. Alexis Bell doubled for East Lyme (15-7).

• No. 23 Grasso Tech was no-hit by No. 10 Stafford 15-0 in five innings in Class S. Ashley Cambisaca took the loss for Grasso (10-11).