SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Wichita State softball team split the final two games of the series with Missouri State, losing the first game 6-5 before bouncing back to win the second game, 2-1, bringing the overall record to 30-18 and 17-4 in the Missouri Valley.

Brittany Fortner led the Shockers, hitting 4-for-6 on the day with two RBIs, two runs scored and a double, while Paige Luellen hit 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored in the split.

Fortner drew a walk and Luellen hit a single to start the fourth inning before Broyles connected on her sixth home run on the season, hitting a three RBI homer to left field to give the Shockers a 3-0 lead. 

The Bears responded in the bottom half of the inning, loading the bases on a Shocker error, a walk and a single before bringing in a runner on a SAC fly to left field to cut the Wichita State lead, 3-1.

Ashley Johnson drew a leadoff walk in the fifth, advancing to second when Williams was hit by a pitch and the Shockers put runners at second and third on a SAC bunt by Kelli Spring. Fortner hit a two RBI double shortly after to give Wichita State a 5-1 advantage.

Missouri State would not go away, however, hitting a two RBI homer to left field, cutting the Wichita State lead, 5-3 in the sixth inning. The Bears loaded the bases on a hit by pitch and two walks before bringing in another run on a fielder's choice to get within one with one out.

Jenni Brooks replaced Katie Malone in the sixth after Malone allowed five hits and three runs, while striking out two in five innings.

The Bears hit a single to left field before Sloan Anderson came in to relieve Brooks in the seventh after allowing one run and one hit in 1.1 innings. Missouri State tied the game on a RBI single to left field before taking game one from Wichita State, 6-5 on a walk-off single to center.

Anderson (11-12) picked up the loss for the Shockers, while Erin Struemph was recorded with the win for the Bears, pitching five innings, allowing four hits and five runs, striking out eight in the win.

Fortner hit 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a double in the loss, with Broyles going 1-for-3 with three RBIs and a home run.

Game two proved to be a pitcher's dual, with the teams combining for six hits and no runs for five innings until the top of the sixth inning. The Shockers loaded the bases with Jaegers reaching on a fielder's choice, Fortner hitting a single up the middle and Broyles drawing a hit by pitch. Luellen hit a two RBI single through the left side to give Wichita State a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the inning.

Missouri State scored one in the bottom of the inning with a RBI double down the left field line but it was not enough as Wichita State took game two of the doubleheader and game three of the series, 2-1, giving the Shockers a 2-1 record over the Bears.

Anderson (12-12) pitched a complete game, picking up the win while allowing just five hits and one run, striking out two in seven innings. Luellen hit 1-for-2 in game two with two RBIs, leading the Shockers in the victory.

Wichita State is next in action when it hosts Southern Illinois in the final home series of the season starting with a doubleheader Sat., April 26 at 12 p.m.

-WICHITA STATE-