Game One - WSU 9 - FAMU 1

TAMPA, Fla. - With the help of a Britnee Barnett home run in the bottom of the fifth inning, Wichita State (2-5) run-ruled the Florida A&M Rattlers (0-5), 9-1, to win the opening game of the USF/Wilson Invitational at the USF Softball Stadium.

The Shockers struck first in the bottom of the second after three were put on base after being hit by pitches. Kara L'Huillier scored first for the Shocks after a Lindsey Mitts double to center field. Mitts followed with a score after an Erin Peters single pop to left field. Peters rounded home after gaining her first stolen base of the year and 45th career and a walk to move the score to 3-0.

Shali Taylor was the only score of the day for Florida A&M after she doubled to left field and was brought home after a Barnett fielding error in the top of the third.

WSU ran away with it in the bottom of the fourth, scoring four runs off of four hits and an error. Elissa Zeches scored first for the Shocks, advancing after Peters reached first base due to a bad throw from the catcher to the first baseman. Peters then scored after advancing due to a Barnett ground out to second base. With a runner in scoring position, Tawnya Guthrie follwed with a double to right center to advance Lisa Jones for a score. Lauren Coleman stepped in to run for Guthrie and scored after a Verhulst single to right field.

Britnee Barnett put the game away for WSU in the bottom of the fifth inning after hitting her second home run of the year to bring in Jones to end the game in a run-rule.

Senior Margo Pruis (2-1) got the win and on the plate and continues to move up the Shocker record books after adding six strikeouts to her list today, placing her at 623 for her career. Pruis needs only eight more K's to move past Lindsay Craig who sits at the top at 631.

WSU will return to action at 3 p.m. against host school No. 24 South Florida.

Game 2 - WSU 0 - #24 USF 2

TAMPA, Fla. - Wichita State (2-6) finished day one of the USF/Wilson Invitational with a 1-1 record after an 0-2 loss against the No. 24 South Florida Bulls (5-4).

Junior-transfer Ashly Bright  got her third start for the Shockers in the circle and only allowed the Bulls with two runs off of six hits, striking out 11 on the day.

With one swing of the bat, USF jumped out to a 1-0 lead over Wichita State in game two thanks to a Griffin home run to left field. The blast was the 12th of the junior's career, putting her in a three-way tie for eighth place with Urbanik and Ginny Georgantas in the USF record books.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Shocks had a chance to put some runs on the board after a leadoff double by Kara L'Huiller and a Lindsey Mitts hit by a put runners on. With one out on the board, the Bulls intentionally walked Erin Peters to load the bases. But USF starting pitcher Christi Ecks retired the final two batters on strikeouts.

The Bulls added an insurance run in the top of the seventh, making the score 2-0. Bullion led off the inning with a single up the middle, advanced to second on a groundout and went to third on single down the left line by Urbanik. Mosch came up to bat and hit a grounder to second base and the Shockers tried to get the force but committed an error, scoring Bullion.

WSU returns to play tomorrow with a 10:30 a.m. start against ETSU.  

--WICHITA STATE--