The Wichita State softball team (1-1) opened the 2007 season with a split at the 21st Annual Louisiana Classics, taking down McNeese State (0-1) 10-5, before falling to No. 14/12 Georgia, 8-0, in six innings in the nightcap.

No. 14/12 Georgia 8, Wichita State 0
LAFAYETTE, La.- After an offensive show against McNeese State, Wichita State's (1-1) bats cooled off as the Shockers dropped an 8-0, six-inning decision to No. 14/12 Georgia Friday afternoon at the 21st Annual Louisiana Classics.

Georgia pounded out 10 hits off Shocker starter Britnee Barnett (0-1), who worked the complete game, giving up six earned runs, while walking two and striking out one.

The Shockers committed three costly errors on the afternoon, and the Bulldogs, a perennial SEC power, took advantage, scoring two unearned runs.

Leadoff hitter Katie McGeeney went 2-for-2 for the Shockers, while seniors Stephanie De La Riva, Erin Peters and Lisa Jones recorded the other hits for WSU.

Georgia got the scoring started in the first when Sojourner Moody walked, stole second and later scored on a Chelsea Cantillo single to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.

UGA tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third and one more in the fourth, before ending the game with a four-run sixth in which the Bulldogs managed five of their 10 hits on the afternoon.

The Shockers did threaten, stranding three in the third after Barnett was intentionally walked to load the bases for cleanup hitter Tawnya Guthrie, but the senior catcher grounded out to the pitcher to end the threat, stranding the fourth of what would be seven left runners on the day.

WSU is next in action again at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, against McNeese State before taking on host school No. 19/17 Louisiana-Lafayette at Noon.


Wichita State 10, McNeese State 5
LAFAYETTE, La.- Wichita State's seniors stepped up big as the Shocker softball team (1-0) opened the season in style Friday morning, pounding out 14 hits in a 10-5 win over McNeese State (0-1) in Lafayette, La.

The Shockers were led by senior Brooke Usher, who went 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBI. Senior Stephanie De La Riva was 2-for-4 with two RBI, while senior Lisa Jones scored a run and drove in one with a triple. Senior catcher Tawnya Guthrie went 2-for-4 at the plate, threw a runner out and did not allow a stolen base in a solid performance behind the plate.

Senior Margo Pruis (1-0) provided the spark from the circle, pitching 4.0 innings, giving up just one hit and two runs while walking four and striking out three. She surrendered to junior-college transfer Ashly Bright, who worked the final 3.0 innings, giving up four hits and three earned runs in her first appearance in a Shocker uniform.

Second baseman Brooke Brodhead went 2-for-3 with two RBI for McNeese State, while starter Cori Bram (0-1) got roughed up early, giving up eight hits and five earned runs in just one inning of work. The Shockers took advantage of five McNeese State errors, and were errorless on the morning.

The Shockers got on the board late in the first as four-straight two-out singles scored Britnee Barnett and Tawnya Guthrie to give the Shockers a 2-0 lead after one.

WSU's offense broke the game open in the second after freshman Elissa Zeches led off inning with an infield single and made it to third when Katie McGeeney doubled to left center to give the Shockers runners at second and third with one out.

Usher then stepped to the plate and provided senior leadership in a big way with a three-run blast over the left field fence to put the Shockers up 5-0. McNeese State answered with two runs in the top of the third as Brooke Brodhead homered off Pruis to cut the Shocker lead to 5-2.

The Shockers responded with three more in the bottom of the third after senior first-baseman Lisa Jones tripled down the left line and later scored on a throwing error after freshman Lindsie Mitts crossed the plate as well, giving WSU a 7-2 lead. WSU showed its versatility in the third as well, as the speedy Zeches walked, stole second and made it to third on an error. She scored on a groundout by McGeeney to put the Shockers ahead 8-2 after three.

McNeese State tacked on a run in the top of the fifth, but the Shockers answered again, as Usher led off the inning with a single, stole second and scored after Britnee Barnett reached on an error. Barnett then scored on a De La Riva single to give the Shockers a 10-3 lead after five.

Bright fought of a late rally by McNeese State in the seventh after Brodhead laced a one-out double into right field and got to third on a bunt single by Christina Allen. Jenny Clay then brought them both home with a double in the gap to left center to close the Shocker lead to 10-5.

Jana Jones kept it alive for the Cowgirls with a double to left, but Bright struck out the final two hitters of the game to secure the win.