SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Wichita State (25-15, 7-5) won its second Valley series of the season with a 4-1 win in game one, but couldn't complete the series sweep of Missouri State (16-11, 5-6) after dropping game two of a conference doubleheader, 5-3, at MSU Softball Field on Wednesday evening.

Game One: Shockers 4, Missouri State 1
The first game of the day started as a near carbon copy of last week's showdown between senior pitcher Ashly Bright (15-10) and Missouri State senior hurler Melissa Porche (9-8), who combined to allow just four hits in the 1-0 Shocker win last week.

After a rough weekend, Bright started a new week off on the right foot, striking out the side in the first inning before adding two more in the second after a leadoff walk to strand a Missouri State runner for the first time in the second.

MSU starter Melissa Porche returned the favor in the third sitting down all three Shockers on swinging third strikes after retiring the first nine Shocker hitters she faced.

Wichita State missed on its first opportunity to score after Katie McGeeney led off the fourth with a double down the left line and advanced to third on a sacrifice by Kara L'Huillier. With WSU's top two power hitters due up it was Porche that won the battle, striking out both Britnee Barnett and Cynthia Verhulst to strand McGeeney at third to end the WSU threat.

The duel continued until Michelle Armentrout ripped a 1-1 pitch from Bright over the left field fence to give the Bears a 1-0 lead after four innings. Bright answered in the top of the fifth, helping herself with a one-out double off the top of the left field wall, scoring pinch-runner Brianna Smet to tie the game 1-1. Smet replaced catcher Heather Gerritse who opened the inning with a single to center. The Shockers then took the lead after an infield single by Jamie Stanclift that forced Jenna Schawrk to make a diving stab at second. Schwark fielded the ball but could not get it to first in time to put down the Shocker first baseman. Bright rounded third and began heading for home and Schwark overthrew home, allowing Bright to score easily to give the Shockers a 2-1 lead.

The Shockers got insurance in the seventh with a two-out double by Bright, before the Shockers got an RBI single from Stanclift and a RBI double by freshman Kiersten Dixon to take a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the frame.

Bright put down the Bears in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win for the Shockers, and their first series win over the Bears under head coach Mike Perniciaro. Bright worked the complete game, giving up one run on five hits while walking one and striking out nine. Porche took the loss, giving up four runs on seven hits while walking none and striking out 11.


Game Two: Missouri State 5, Shockers 3
The Shockers jumped out to an early lead against MSU starter Lauren McGinley (5-1), scoring three in the top of the first on a three-run home run by Gerritse, her first of the season. Katie McGeeney led the game off by reaching on an error before a double by Kara L'Huillier put them both into scoring position, setting up Gerritse's first career shot to give WSU a 3-0 lead.

The Bears responded in the second, chasing Shocker starter Brianna Smet (9-3) with five runs on six hits, allowing Missouri State to take a 5-3 lead after two.

Each of WSU's first five hits went for extra bases, but the Shockers stranded two runners in the first four innings, unable to chip away at Missouri State's lead. The five-run second was all the offense McGinley needed, as she calmed down after the shaky first to keep the Shockers off balance for the rest of the nightcap.

Porche returned in the sixth after Barnett led the inning off with a double and promptly turned back the Shocker rally to send the game to the bottom of the sixth with the Shockers still trailing 5-3. McGinley finished her afternoon working five innings, giving up three runs on five hits while walking none and striking out four.

A two-run lead was all Porche needed to pick up her sixth save of the season, one that ties her with Bright for the league lead. Porche worked the final two innings with just one hit, while striking out one.

Bright was effective in 4.1 innings of relief, giving up no runs on five hits while striking out five. Smet earned the loss for the Shockers.

WSU returns to action this weekend when the Shockers host league-leading Creighton at Wilkins Stadium in a three-game set. The series begins with a doubleheader at noon on Saturday before wrapping up with a single game at noon on Sunday.