WICHITA, Kan.- After handing preseason favorite, Illinois State, its first conference loss of the season, Wichita State fell to the Redbirds, 10-1, in the second game of the double-header in Wichita, Kansas, Saturday afternoon.

The Shockers snapped a four game losing streak with Illinois State by taking the first game of the double-header with a come from behind victory in the bottom of the seventh inning. Illinois State bounced back and held the Shocks to just five hits as they picked up 12 of their own to split the first day with WSU.

Heather Gerritse and Hayley Temple led the Shockers at the plate in the second game as they both went 2-for-2. Kiersten Dixon was 1-for-3 at the plate with a double and Danika Miller scored the Shockers' only run.

Temple was a combined 4-for-5 and Gerritse was 3-for-5 at the plate on the day for the Shockers. Sloan Anderson made appearances in both games. She picked up the win in the first game and had a combined eight strikeouts on the day.

The loss drops Wichita State to 8-22 on the season and 1-4 in Valley play and Illinois State improved to 16-11 overall and 3-1 in the MVC.

Illinois State's starting pitcher, Jordan Birch, improved to 7-1 on the season as she went 5.0 innings and gave up just one run on five hits. The Redbirds offense was powered by Elizabeth Kay, who went 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored. Kay had two home runs on the day.

Brianna Smet got the start in the circle for the Shockers. She held the Redbirds scoreless while giving up just three hits in the first three innings. In the fourth inning, ISU broke through by scoring two runs off of three hits in the top of the fourth inning. Elizabeth Kay hit her second home run of the day with a two-run shot to center field to boost the Redbirds over the Shockers, 2-0, heading into the bottom of the fourth inning.

The Shockers put runners in scoring position in the bottom of the inning when Heather Gerritse singled up the middle and Hayley Temple followed it up with a double down the left field line. Illinois State was able to get out of inning as starting pitcher, Jordan Birch, struck out the side.

Illinois State scored eight runs off of six hits and one error to take a 10-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning. The Shockers were able to score one run off of one hit in the bottom of the inning, but the game was called due to the mercy rule as the Redbirds went on to win 10-1.

Wichita State and Illinois State return to action Sunday afternoon to wrap up the 3-game series with the first pitch scheduled for noon.

-Wichita State-