ARLINGTON, Texas - The Shockers finished just one run shy of posting an undefeated record for the weekend at the UT Arlington Classic. The Shocks outlasted the host team, UT Arlington, in an 11-inning thriller on Sunday morning before falling to Big 12-foe Texas Tech, 2-1, in their final game of the tournament.

Game One: Wichita State 3 - UT Arlington 2

The Shockers started their Sunday morning the way they ended their Saturday afternoon, locked in a pitching battle with UT Arlington. The host team threw their star freshman Teri Lyles while the Shocks got a dominating start from junior Brianna Smet.

Outfielders Lindsie Mitts and Brittany Osburn each tallied a pair of hits in the victory while junior Kiersten Dixon stepped up for the crucial RBI in a stellar pinch-hitting performance. Sophomore catcher Holly Eckert drove in the run that would eventually seal the deal for the Shocks.

Smet struck out the side in the bottom of the first, making her presence known early. The Mavericks threatened in the second with runners at second and third when Smet ended the threat with a strikeout. Another Smet strikeout left a UTA runner on third again in the Mavericks' following at bat.

A manufactured run was the only way the tournament host was able to get to Smet. An Erica LeFlore ground out RBI scored first baseman Rebecca Collom in the bottom of the fourth to give UTA the 1-0 lead.

Lyles kept the Shockers from scoring through the first five, but the Shockers still found a way to get on the board. Freshman shortstop Sammie Shook ledoff the top of the sixth with a walk and moved to second on Lindsie Mitts' sac bunt. Called on to pinch hit,  Dixon stepped up in the clutch. Her rocket through the right side of the infield drove in Shook to knot the game, 1-1.

Freshman Katie Armagost took over for Smet to start the sixth. She picked up right where her starter left off, shutting the Mavericks out through the seventh to send the game into extra innings. Her outing would last much longer than she bargained for, however, as she threw six innings

In the Shockers top half of the inning, Lyles coaxed a pair of ground balls to second to leave senior Kara L'Huillier on third after she reached by way of the international tie breaker rule. Armagost worked herself out of a jam after giving up the walk to put runners on the corners in the bottom of the eighth to keep the Shockers alive.

Armagost sat the Mavericks in order in the ninth to give the Shocks another opportunity in the top of the tenth.

This time the Shocks took advantage.

Obsburn beat out a bunt for a hit before L'Huillier drew a walk to load the bases. Junior designated player Heather Gerritse broke her tournament streak of a homerun in each game, but her RBI groundout did the trick to put the Shocks up, 2-1. An error in the bottom of the tenth, however, tied the game once again.

Unfazed, the Shockers went to work again in the 11th. Mitts beat out a bunt to spark the offense and a long sac fly from sophomore catcher Holly Eckert drove in the winning run as Armagost sat the Mavericks in order in the home half of the inning.

Game Two: Wichita State 1 - Texas Tech 2

Wichita State needed time to get the bats going in the final game of the tournament, but had the pitching needed to keep the game close. Shocker starter Kasha Kolb threw another gem, allowing just one run off of four hits in her five innings in the circle. Junior Brianna Smet made a return appearance in her second outing of the day when she replaced Kolb to start the sixth.

The Shockers threatened in the second, using three straight walks to load the bases, but Red Raider starter Ashly Jacobs' strikeout ended the rally unscathed.

While Kolb and Smet allowed just one run apiece, the Shocker bats remained quiet - until the bottom of the seventh.

With their backs against the wall, the Shockers sprung to life. Junior first baseman Jamie Hull got the rally started with a one-out infield single. A passed ball moved her to second to set up freshman third baseman HayleyTemple's RBI double. Sophomore Holly Eckert stepped in for a pinch-hit single, but the rally stopped there.

Tech reliever Hillary Phillips coaxed a groundout double play to end the game in the Red Raiders' favor, 2-1.The Shockers are in action again on Friday, March 5, when they take on Boise State at the 2010 Texas Tech Tournament.

-Wichita State-