NORMAL, Ill. -- The Wichita State softball team (28-20, 10-9) snapped a four-game losing streak by salvaging a doubleheader split with Illinois State (19-17, 9-5) after a 4-3 win in the second game of the series Saturday afternoon at the Redbird Softball Complex.

Kara L'Huillier led the Shocker offense with a 3-for-3 effort at the plate while freshman Heather Gerritse was 2-for-3, driving in both Shocker runs in the first game before WSU fell 3-2. Ashly Bright tied the WSU school record with 15 strikeouts in game one, but for the third time in the last four games an opponent handed the Shockers a loss in the final at bat of the game on a walkoff play.

Katie McGeeney was 2-for-4 in game two, while Jessica Spencer went 2-for-4 with two RBI in the nightcap. Lauren Coleman also had two RBI in game two, while Brianna Smet picked up the win for the Shockers.

Game One: Illinois State 3, Shockers 2
Wichita State did not wait long to put up its first run of the day after a one-out double by Heather Gerritse brought home Kara L'Huillier to give the Shockers an early 1-0 lead in the first. L'Huillier and Cynthia Verhulst each reached on one-out singles before the freshman catcher stepped to the plate to deliver her 21st RBI of the season. WSU had the opportunity to add more with a pair of seniors coming to the plate but Britnee Barnett went down on strikes and Ashly Bright grounded out as the Shockers left two in scoring position in its first at bat.

WSU's third mirrored the first, scoring in the exact same fashion as it did in the opening frame. McGeeney was retired in the leadoff spot before L'Huillier reached on a one-out single up the middle followed by a walk which was issued to Verhulst by Redbird starter Amber Smith. Gerritse then delivered again, bringing home L'Huillier on a double to right-center to give the Shockers a 2-0 lead. WSU left two more in scoring position however, as Smith retired Barnett and Bright on a ground out and fly out to end the threat, stranding the fourth WSU player in scoring position in the first three innings.

After Smith's one-out single in the first Bright retired six of the next seven Rebirds on strikes before Kara Nelson delivered ISU's second hit of the contest in the third with a one-out flare that dropped in shallow right field.

Michelle Henderson cut the Shocker lead in half with one swing of the bat, as she belted a solo shot to left to leadoff the bottom of the fourth, giving the Redbirds their first run of the day on Henderson's second home run of the season. ISU continued the threat with a bunting game that put runners on second and third with just one out, but Bright recorded the final two outs on a pair of strikeouts to end the Redbird threat with just one run given up, cutting WSU's edge to 2-1 after four.

WSU stranded its fifth runner in scoring position on the day in the fifth after L'Huillier reached on her third single of the day but never made it past second after a Verhulst walk, leaving the door open for the Redbirds in the bottom of the frame.

Bright (17-14) retired the Redbird fifth on three strikeouts, and had 14 strikeouts in the first six innings. She ran into trouble in the seventh, issuing a one-out walk to Katie Mathis, bringing up the top of the Redbird order which includes reigning MVC Player of the Year Kara Nelson. Nelson went down swinging, giving Bright a tie of her own school record with her 15th strikeout.

Amber Smith (9-6) had the final say however, blasting a walkoff two-run shot to left field, handing WSU its fourth-straight loss, three of which have come at the final at bat on walkoff plays. Bright gave up three earned runs on six hits while walking two and striking out 15. Smith finished her fifth complete-game of the season by giving up two runs on six hits while walking and striking out four.


Game Two: Shockers 4, Illinois State 3
Illinois State got on the board first in game two when Amber Smith doubled off the right-center wall to bring home Kara Nelson, who led the inning off with an infield single before advancing to second on an error by Shocker starter Brianna Smet.

The Shockers answered in the top of the second with a two-run home run by third baseman Lauren Coleman off Redbird starter Rachel Smith, giving WSU its first lead of game two, 2-1. Coleman's second homer of the season brought home Britnee Barnett, who snapped out of a slump to rip a double of the right-center wall just a batter before.

Jessie Buker tied the game in the third with a solo home run over the center field fence, Illinois State's third home run of the afternoon.

Catcher Jessica Spencer reached on a one-out double in the fourth but WSU continued to be haunted with runners in scoring position, stranding two more after Jamie Stanclift grounded out to end the inning.

Smet got some help from her defense in the fifth after Amber Smith ripped a pitch of the top of the center field wall but was caught trying to stretch the hit into extra bases as Kiersten Dixon threw to L'Huillier waiting at second to tag Smith for the first out of the inning, saving a leadoff double.

Casey Gorrell led the ISU sixth off with an infield single before Abby Olson reached on a walk to give the Rebirds two runners on with just one out. The Redbirds took the lead two batters later when Katie Mathis slapped a two-out single down the right line to give ISU a 3-2 lead.

WSU regained the lead in the seventh when Jessica Spencer roped a two-out double to right center, bringing home Katie McGeeney and Kiersten Dixon, who both reached on one-out singles earlier in the inning, giving WSU a 4-3 lead.

Bright came on to work the seventh, and worked the heart of the Redbird order with no trouble to pick up her seventh save of the season.

Smet (10-4) threw well in her first action since April 5, giving up three runs on eight hits in the win. Rachel Smith (8-7) worked 6.2 innings in the loss, giving up four runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out three.