TEMPE, Ariz.- The Shocker softball team split a pair of games Friday at the Wilson/DeMarini Invitational defeating Howard, 15-9, before dropping a 10-2 decision to North Dakota State in five innings.

Layne Greenlee, Sydney Stuever, and Haley Temple each collected a pair of hits in the Shockers victory over Howard leading a comeback from a 4-0 first inning deficit. After falling behind in the top-of-the first inning Wichita State cut the Howard lead in half on a passed ball and subsequent throwing error from the Howard catcher that scored Stuever and Brittney Osborn.

After giving a single run in the top-of-the second the Shockers returned to the plate to put together their highest scoring inning of the day, scoring six runs with two outs to take the lead, 8-5. Stuever, Temple, and Sammie Shook each drove in a run in the inning.

The Shockers held the lead from then on tacking on three runs in the third inning with Erin Carney, who was hit by three pitches during the game, and Greenlee driving in runs for Wichita State.

Freshman pitcher Katherine Johnson entered the game in the second inning and pitched six innings, giving up four earned runs and striking out six Bison hitters to earn her first victory as a Shocker.

In the afternoon game against North Dakota State the Shockers took an early 2-0 lead on a Melanie Jaegers home run to left field but were unable to mount any offensive charges from there as North Dakota State score 10 unanswered runs to end the game in the fifth inning.

The Shockers play two more games Saturday with rematches against Howard at 11 a.m. (MST) and defending national champion Arizona State at 5:30 p.m. (MST).

-WICHITA STATE-