WICHITA, Kan.- Heather Gerritse went 2-for-4 with two RBI to help Wichita State (9-10) comeback to beat Rutgers (7-14) in its home opener Monday night at Wilkins Stadium.

After being held hitless in the first two innings, the Scarlet Knights struck first when Mikelyn Messina hit her fourth home run of the season. Messina's blast to right-center came with the bases empty and gave RU a 1-0 lead.

Shocker starter Kasha Kolb settled down to retire the side in the third and fourth before running into trouble in the fifth. Lindsey Curran led off the inning with a single and scored along with Jennifer Meinheit on Kylee Bishop's single through the left side. Kolb was then lifted for Katie Armagost, who got the final out of the inning.

But from that point it was all WSU. The Shockers wasted no time in the comeback effort, getting after new pitcher Noelle Sisco.

Lauren Coleman got the momentum in WSU's favor with a lead-off single. She was retired on a fielder's choice but Kersti Rowan crossed the plate two batters later off a hit by Kara L'Huillier for the Shockers' first run. Gerritse then sent a rocket to the gap in left-center to score L'Huillier all the way from first in a close play at the plate.

Gerritse was replaced by pinch runner Danika Miller, a move that paid dividends quickly as the speedy freshman tied the game by scoring on a passed ball.

WSU kept rolling in the sixth thanks to miscues by the Scarlet Knight defense. Hayley Temple reached second on an error by left fielder Mickenzie Alden. After a pop-up, Rowan beat out a throw to first for an infield hit to put runners on the corners with one out. Rowan tried to draw a throw down to second with a stolen base but RU didn't bite.

Kiersten Dixon stepped up to the plate and delivered what became the game winning hit with a drive just over the second baseman's head. Not stopping at first, Dixon motored to second and beat out the throw that allowed Temple and Rowan to score for a 5-3 lead.

Gerritse collected her second hit and RBI of the game two batters later for a 6-3 advantage.

The cushion would be plenty for Armagost, who allowed just one hit in 2.1 innings to pick up her fourth win of the season.

Starter Nicole Lindley took the loss for the Scarlet Knights and fell to 3-7.

The Shockers will look to continue their winning ways this weekend as they host UNI on the opening weekend of conference play. The Panthers, picked third in the Missouri Valley preseason poll, will take on the Shockers in a double-header on Sat., March 20, at noon. The teams will return to Wilkins Stadium on Sun., March 21, to conclude the series with a single game at noon.