WICHITA, Kan. – The Wichita State softball team used a five run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning to take game one from Western Illinois, 10-6 but fell, 8-5 in the second game of the series Wed., March 12 at Wilkins Stadium.

Junior Melanie Jaegers went 4-for-6 (.667) on the night, including three doubles and three runs scored, while sophomore Cacy Williams also hit .667 (4-for-6), highlighted by a home run, two doubles and two RBIs. 

Game One: Wichita State 10, Western Illinois 6

The Shockers came out on fire in the bottom of the first inning, highlighted by a lead off double by Cacy Williams down the right field line. Paige Luellen stepped up shortly after, hitting a single up the middle to score Williams and give Wichita State an early 1-0 advantage. Paige Mason hit a single to left field and Brittany Fortner hit a two RBI double to right center to extend the Shocker lead, 3-0 going into the second inning.

Western Illinois responded in the second inning with a two RBI double to deep center field to cut the Wichita State lead, 2-3.

Williams kept things going for the Shockers in the bottom of the second with her second double of the game, putting Wichita State in scoring position. Liz Broyles hit a RBI single to left field, scoring Williams and giving the Shockers a 4-2 advantage.

The Leathernecks added four runs in the fourth inning, capped by a two-straight doubles to left center and a RBI triple to right center, giving Western Illinois its first lead of the game, 6-4.

Sloan Anderson replaced Katie Malone after pitching 3.2 innings and allowing 10 hits, three doubles and six runs.

Melanie Jaegers hit a double to right field to start off the bottom of the fourth for the Shockers, eventually scoring on an Ashley Johnson single up the middle to cut the Leatherneck lead, 5-6.

The Shockers tied the game, 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth when Jaegers scored on a Johnson single before Broyles hit a two RBI double down the left field line to put Wichita State back on top, 8-6. Luellen hit a two-run homer to right center to extend the Shocker lead for good, 10-6.

Anderson (5-6) picked up the win for Wichita State, allowing just two hits and striking out three in 3.1 innings. Williams went 2-for-2 at the plate in the first game, including two doubles and three runs scored.

Game Two: Western Illinois 8, Wichita State 5

Western Illinois was first to strike in the final game of the evening on a RBI single up the middle in the top of the first but Williams responded in the bottom of the inning with a lead off home run to center field to tie things up, 1-1.

Paige Mason continued the momentum for the Shockers in bottom of the second with a home run to left center to give Wichita State its first lead of the game, 2-1. The Shockers looked to score again after Jaegers hit a double to left center, Vandever walked and Johnson singled up the middle to load the bases but Williams grounded into a double play to get the Leathernecks out of the inning.

Romeo hit a two RBI homer to left field in the top of the third to regain the Western Illinois lead, 3-2.

Kelli Spring reached on an error, advancing to second on the error to start off the bottom of the third, eventually scoring on a throwing error by the catcher to tie the game, 3-3 for the Shockers.

Western Illinois added four runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by a RBI double to left field to take back the lead, 7-3.

Luellen cut the Leathernecks lead, 4-7, with a home run to center field in the bottom of the fifth and Jaegers scored on a Williams single to right field in the bottom of the seventh but it wasn't enough as the Shockers dropped the second game, 8-5 to the Leathernecks.

Anderson picked up the loss for Wichita State, allowing eight hits and seven runs while striking out four in 4.2 innings. Jaegers went 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles, while Williams went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs.

The Shockers host Loyola in the conference-opener with a doubleheader Sat., March 15 at Wilkins Stadium starting at noon. 

-WICHITA STATE-