NORMAL, Ill. -- The Wichita State softball team (28-21, 10-10) got another outstanding pitching performance from senior Ashly Bright in its bid to win its first series in Normal in MVC play, but the Shocker offense came up short as WSU fell to Illinois State (20-17, 10-5), 1-0, Sunday afternoon in the series finale at the Redbird Softball Complex.

Bright (17-15) finished the game with 11 strikeouts and two walks, while allowing just two hits in the loss. Amber Smith (10-6) struck out four and walked four in the win.

Katie McGeeney led the game off with a single up the middle before advancing to second on a ground out by Kara L'Huillier. Heather Gerritse slapped a two-out pitch from Amber Smith through the left side but Jessie Buker made a great throw home to catch McGeeney trying to score, ending the Shocker first with no score and a runner left.

After recording her 500th career strikeout and becoming just the third pitcher in MVC history to strikeout 300 batters in a season, Ashly Bright picked up where she left off on Saturday striking out the side to open Sunday's game. Illinois State registered its first base runner of the day in the fourth after Bright struck out seven in the first three innings. Kara Nelson led the fourth off with an infield single and reached second on a passed ball before advancing to third on a long fly ball by Amber Smith, giving the Redbirds a runner on third with just one out.

Jessie Buker then lifted a Bright pitch deep to left field that nearly sent Katie McGeeney to the warning track, giving ISU a 1-0 lead on the sacrifice fly.

Wichita State had an opportunity in the fifth after Kiersten Dixon reached on a two-out single and stole second, but after Katie McGeeney walked Dixon was caught trying to advance to third, ending the inning and one of WSU's best threats to score on the afternoon.

Buker's sacrifice fly was all the offense Redbird starter Amber Smith (10-6) needed, keeping the Shocker hitters off balance all afternoon to pick up her second win of the series with a five-hit shutout.

WSU threatend in the seventh after a pair of one-out walks before a ground out by Jamie Stanclift gave the Shockers runners at the corners, but Kiersten Dixon grounded out to end the game, giving the Redbirds the series win.

WSU returns to action next Thursday at Kansas.