NORMAL, Ill.- Wichita State (9-17, 0-4) never got on track and dropped both games of a doubleheader, 9-1 and 10-2, to Illinois State (12-10, 2-0) on Saturday at Marian Kneer Stadium.

Game One

Illinois State jumped on the Shockers early. Redbird leadoff hitter Kara Nelson singled just over the glove of second baseman Kara L'Huillier and into right-center field.

Nelson would score two batters later when Elizabeth Kay homered to left field for a 2-0 ILS lead.

The Rebirds threatened again in the second, loading the bases thanks to two walks and an error. But Shocker starter Kasha Kolb got Jhavon Hamilton to fly out to right to end the threat.

WSU cut the deficit in half in the third inning. Sammie Shook led off the inning with a double down the line in right and moved to third on an infield hit by Danika Miller. An RBI single by Lindsie Mitts was negated when it was ruled that Miller left the bag at first too early.

Mitts returned to the batter's box and grounded back to the pitcher, Megan Warner, who fielded the ball cleanly but sailed the throw over the head of first baseman Michelle Henderson allowing Shook to score.

Kolb appeared to have settled down after retiring the side in order in the third but walked Niki Stansell to lead off the fourth. A one-out single put runners on the corners and chased Kolb from the game for freshman Katie Armagost.

Lauren Kellar pushed the lead to 5-1 with a three-run homer to right. Hamilton and Abby Olson each followed with homers to left and center, respectively, and the Redbirds pushed across another for a 9-1 lead.

Warner gave up a lead off walk and infield single in the fifth, but retired the next three hitters to end the game.

Kolb took the loss for the Shockers, falling to 4-9 on the season.

Game Two

Much like game one, the Redbirds wasted no time putting a dent on the scoreboard. Elizabeth Kay hit her second homer of the day, this one a three-run shot, in the bottom of the fist for a quick 3-0 lead.

But the Shockers chipped away at the ILS lead in the second. After a lengthy at-bat, Jamie Hull drew a one-out walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Freshman Sammie Shook fell behind in the count before battling back and drawing a walk. Fello freshman Hayley Temple provided the big hit of the inning, lining a double down the right field line to score both Hull and Shook to pull WSU with one, 3-2.

ILS answered with a solo homer from Brianna Lizen in the bottom half of the inning and a Kara Nelson RBI double made it 5-2.

WSU threatened in the third as Danika Miller drew a one-out walk and was on the move after a single from Kara L'Huillier. But Miller hesitated around the bag at second and was thrown out at third. L'Huillier moved to second on the play but Redbird pitcher Jordan Birch got Heather Gerritse to fly out to right to end the inning.

ILS tacked on two more runs in the fourth and three runs in the fifth for the run-rule win.

Brianna Smet took the loss for WSU, falling to 0-3 on the season.

The teams will meet in the series finale tomorrow at noon.