DES MOINES, Iowa -- Drake (26-24, 13-10) used a three-run sixth to defeat Wichita State (32-27, 13-13) in the regular-season finale for both teams at Buel Field Sunday afternoon. With the loss, the Shockers fall to the fifth-seed in next week's MVC Tournament in Carbondale, Ill.

The Shockers struck early, scoring one in the second on an RBI double by Jamie Stanclift, bringing home Brianna Smet to give WSU a 1-0 lead. Smet was pinch-running for Cynthia Verhulst after the senior led the second off with a double as well.

Smet (10-8) started well in the circle, retiring the first six Drake hitters she faced. Jenna DeLong recorded Drake's first hit of the game in the bottom of the third with a looping single to right, but the Shocker defense came through one batter later, turning a double play on a bunt attempt by Kelsey Kahler, allowing Smet to face the minimum the first time through the order.

Jamie Hull and Stanclift reached on back-to-back singles to start the Shocker fifth, and advanced into scoring position on a well executed sacrifice by Lindsie Mitts. Kiersten Dixon then gave the Shockers a 2-0 lead, bringing Hull home on a squeeze play which allowed the freshman to advance to first, keeping runners on the corners with one out for WSU.

Drake posted its first run of the game on a RBI single to right-center by leadoff hitter Marilyn Buss, cutting the Shocker lead in half, 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth. The Bulldogs then took the lead on a two-run double by Jaci Faidley that bounced off the wall in center, scoring BUss and Kristin Birocci to give DU a 3-2 lead.

It was just the offense starter Brynne Dordel (15-11) needed, as she sent the Shockers down in the seventh to pick up the win and send WSU to an 11 a.m., meeting with No. 8-seed Indiana State next Thursday in the opening game of the 2008 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship in Carbondale, Ill.

Smet took the loss, giving up three runs on five hits with one walk and one strikeout. Dordel gave up just five Shocker hits on the day after giving up eight to the WSU lineup in game one of the series.

 

--Wichita State--