MACOMB, Ill.- The Shockers scored nine runs in the third inning to snap their 10-game losing streak and pick up their first road win of the season as they beat Western Illinois, 18-11, in the first game of a double-header in Macomb, Illinois, Wednesday evening.

The 18 runs scored by the Shockers is the highest total for Wichita State this season. The Shocks also had a season high 14 hits and 17 RBI as a team.

Wichita State (7-21) was led by its trio of seniors who combined for a total of six RBI.  Heather Gerritse went 2-for-3 at the plate with four RBI, one home run, one double, and a run scored. The home run was the 11th of career and second on the season. Jamie Hull went 2-for-2 at the plate with one RBI and two runs scored. Kiersten Dixon rounded out the trio as she went 1-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored.

It was a career day for a few of the Shocker underclassmen. Freshman Rachel Milnark hit her first career home run as a Shocker. She finished the game 3-for-5 at the plate with two RBI and four runs scored. Danika Miller went 2-for-5 with four RBI, a triple, and a run scored. It was Miller's first triple of her career and a career high four RBI in one game. Hilary Fort also hit her first career home run as a Shocker as she went 1-for-2 at the plate with three RBI and a run scored.

Erin Carney, Holly Eckert, and Brittney Osborn all had one hit in the game for the Shocks.

Brianna Smet improved to 3-8 on the season as she picked up the win in the circle. She went 4.2 innings, while giving up three runs off of seven hits. Sloan Anderson picked up her third save on the season for Wichita State.

The Leathernecks went to work early scoring three runs off of two hits in the bottom of the first inning. Nikki Marinec led off the inning for WIU with a double to right center. Colleen Biebel walked and Marinec advanced to third on a wild pitch before Beth Golitko singled to left field to score Biebel and advance Marinec to third base. Jamie Goss picked up the second RBI of the inning by scoring Marinec on a fielder's choice. The Leathernecks added one more run to the total when Erin Schlotfeldt hit a sacrifice fly out to right field to score Golitko. After giving up three early runs in the game, starting pitcher, Katie Armagost left the game as Brianna Smet came out of the bullpen. Smet struck out the side to get the Shockers out of the inning. The Leathernecks held onto a 3-0 lead after the first inning of play.

The Shockers made it a 3-2 game in the top of the second inning by scoring two runs off of two hits and one error. Erin Carney led off the inning by reaching on an error on the third baseman. Milnark then singled to right field to advance Carney to second. Brittney Osborn grounded out to third base, but both Carney and Milnark were able to advance a base on the play. Miller then picked up the two RBI of the inning by hitting a triple to right center to score both Carney and Milnark. 

The Leathernecks had a runner in scoring position with one out in the bottom of the second inning, but Hayley Temple was able to turn a double play when Biebel lined out to short to get out of the inning.

The Shocks took that momentum into the the top of the third as they scored nine runs off of five hits and one error in the inning. Hull started off the inning with a double to right center. Gerritse gave the Shockers their first lead of the game, 4-3, with a two-run home run to right field. Temple kept things going by putting the ball in play and reaching on an error by the third baseman. WIU loaded the bases for Osborn as Carney was hit-by-a-pitch and Sammie Shook was walked. The Shocks made it a 6-3 game as Temple and Carney scored on back-to-back walks with the bases loaded. The Shockers weren't done yet as they scored two more runs in the inning when Dixon hit a single back up the middle to score both Shook and Osborn. WSU batted around the inning as Hull kept things going with her second double of the inning to score Miller and make it a 9-3 game in the top of the third inning. Gerritse picked up her third and fourth RBI of the inning by hitting a double to right field, which scored both Dixon and Hull. When it was all said and done, the Shocks took a 11-3 lead into the bottom of the third inning.

Milnark made it a 12-3 game in the top of the fourth inning when she hit her first career home run as a Shocker. The freshman second baseman hit a homer over the fence in center field.

The Leathernecks hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to escape from the mercy rule and extend the game another inning.

The Shockers made it a 15-5 game in the top of the sixth inning by scoring three runs off of three hits and one error. Hilary Fort hit a three run home run to right field to score both Osborn and Milnark. The home run was the first of Fort's career as a Shocker.

WIU answered by scoring three runs off of four hits to make it a 15-8 after six innings of play.

The Shockers added three more runs to the total in the seventh inning to win the game 18-11.

The second game of the double-header was called in the third inning due to darkness. The match-up will not be considered a game since at least five innings were not played. 

The Shockers return to conference action this weekend as they welcome Illinois State to Wilkins Stadium on Sat., March 26 for a double-header starting at 12:00 p.m.

-Wichita State-