NORMAL, Ill.-Wichita State lost a pair of hard fought games Saturday in Normal, Ill. against preseason MVC favorite Illinois State.

Saturday's opening game was a pitching duel throughout with Redbirds ace Jordan Birch throwing a complete game one-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts leading her team to a 3-0 victory. Matching Birch frame by frame was Shocker starter Katie Armagost. Armagost threw a complete game as well allowing one earned run through the first six innings.

Illinois State (17-13, 4-1) took a 1-0 lead on a third inning sacrifice fly from Jhavon Hamilton. The game was deadlocked from then on before Redbird third baseman Elizabeth Kay hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Game two of the days' doubleheader provided more runs and even more drama than the first. The Wichita State (7-22, 0-5) bats came out aggressive and Erin Carney's double to the right centerfield wall scored Sydney Stuever for a 1-0 Shocker first inning lead. Stuever then added an RBI double to left field in the second inning scoring Brianne Bond for a 2-0 lead.

Illinois State came back to tie the game with a run in the bottom of the second and third innings knotting the game at 2-2. 

After exchanging scoreless frames in the fourth and fifth innings, Carney started the drama again in the top of the sixth inning launching a leadoff homer over the left field fence to give Wichita State a 3-2 lead.

However, the lead was short lived as Illinois State got a pinch-hit solo home run from Kelsey Turczyn and then a two-run homer by Lauren Kellar to take a 5-3 lead into the seventh inning.

The Shocker seventh inning started on the right note with senior Hilary Fort reaching first base with a leadoff walk against Birch who entered the game after Carney's go-ahead home run. The Shockers nearly capitalized three separate times as Stuever, Rachel Milnark and Hayley Temple all hit deep fly balls to center field that had the home crowd on the edges of their seats.

The Shockers and Redbirds will conclude the weekend series with a 12 p.m. game Sunday.

- WICHITA STATE -