A trio of three-run innings snapped No. 20/17 Illinois State's (30-9, 8-3) first two-game losing skid of the season as the Redbirds salvaged the series finale with Wichita State (18-23, 6-5), 9-3, Sunday afternoon at Wilkins Stadium.

Illinois State avenged yesterday's losses quickly, as walks continued to haunt the Shockers. Starter Margo Pruis (10-10) issued free passes to three of the first four batters and the Redbirds made her pay, as Kelsey Warning took a Pruis pitch deep over the left field fence to give ISU a 3-0 lead. Pruis turned over pitching duties to Ashly Bright after hitting Amber Smith, facing a total of four batters in a third of an inning.

The Shockers threatened in the second after Cynthia Verhulst was hit by Redbird starter Stacy Birk to lead the inning off. Stephanie De La Riva then roped a single down the left line to give the Shockers runners at first and second. After a well placed sacrifice by Kara L'Huillier, Lindsie Mitts, the Shockers' hottest hitter in conference play, couldn't bring a run home, striking out for the second out of the inning. A batter later a Birk pitch got past catcher Casey Gorrell but the Redbird battery teamed up to tag out Lauren Coleman, pinch-running for Verhulst, at home trying to advance on the pitch.

Walks again came back to hit the Shockers hard in the fourth as Bright loaded the bases with three walks before turning the ball over to Britnee Barnett, who then gave up a bases-clearing triple to leadoff hitter Kara Nelson, giving the Redbirds a 6-0 lead.

Barnett worked the final 3.1 innings, giving up three runs on six hits while striking out one. Bright worked 3.1 innings of relief for Pruis, giving up three runs and walking three while striking out four.

The Shockers got on the board finally in the fourth when Barnett drilled a 0-1 pitch over the left center fence to cut the deficit to 6-1.

Jamie Stanclift led the fifth off with her first hit of the season, and Katie McGeeney reached on a fielder's choice to give the Shockers two runners on with no one out. Lisa Jones executed the sacrifice to perfection to advance the runners before a Verhulst single through the right side cut the Redbird lead to 6-3, driving both Stanclift and McGeeney.

The Redbirds added three more in the seventh, which was more than enough for Shannon Nicholson, who came on to pitch 3.2 innings of relief to pick up the win. Nicholson's changeup continued to smother the Shocker bats, as she gave up two runs on two hits while striking three in the victory.

WSU is next in action at 4 p.m., Wed., April 4, at Missouri State before hosting a three-game set with Indiana State next Friday and Saturday at Wilkins Stadium.