WICHITA, Kan.- The Wichita State softball team closed out an unbeaten fall campaign with a doubleheader sweep of Butler County Wednesday night at Wilkins Stadium by scores of, 5-4, and, 8-0 (5 innings).

The first game began with the Shockers jumping out to an early 3-0 lead through three innings behind a Laura Vickers RBI double and Sammie Shook's third inning solo home run.

The Grizzlies put together a rally in the top of the fourth inning scoring one run but leaving the bases loaded on a lineout to Rachel Milnark in centerfield who threw a perfect strike to home to catch a Butler County runner attempting to tag from third.

Butler County came back in the top of the seventh inning to take the lead due to two Shocker fielding errors. The Grizzlies took the lead on a Kelci Garza homerun that Milnark nearly reeled in to end the game.

Wichita State rebounded in the bottom of the frame with a Melanie Jaegers lead-off double. After advancing to third, Jaegers was driven in on a Milnark single to tie the game. With two outs Laura Vickers hit a walk-off double scoring Milnark to win the game for the Shockers.

Carrying the late inning momentum from the first game, the Shockers bats came alive in game two. Wichita State again jumped out to an early 5-0 lead through the first two innings. Shocker pitcher Sloan Anderson didn't allow the Grizzlies to entertain any thoughts of a comeback. Anderson pitched five innings of one-hit ball to earn the victory.

Milnark, Sydney Stuever and Vickers each had two RBI's to lead a balanced Shocker hitting attack. Vickers RBI's came in the bottom of the fourth inning on a long homerun that easily cleared the left field scoreboard.

The Shockers finished the fall season unbeaten and will begin spring play in mid-February.

 

-Wichita State-