Box Score

AUSTIN, Texas – Wichita State's softball team used a four-run rally during the top of the sixth and top of the seventh to win 9-6 on Friday afternoon at the Texas Classic inside the Red & Charline McCombs Field. With the win, the Shockers improved to 4-2, and the Rams dropped to 3-4.

Wichita State scored their nine runs on 10 hits with an error, and left eight on base. Colorado State scored their six runs on seven hits while committing four errors, and left five on base.

The Rams were up 6-1 after five innings, but the Shockers scored four in the top of the sixth on one hit to cut the Rams lead down to 6-5. Wichita State's sixth inning outburst was helped by the Shockers' ability to take advantage of three Colorado State errors in the top of the sixth. Wichita State added four more in the seventh to win 9-6 and complete their second comeback in as many games.

Jenni Brooks (2-1) pitched a seven-inning, four-hit shutout in relief while allowing just two walks. Kelsey Sterneker started the game and gave up six runs (five earned) on three hits with two walks without recording an out during the bottom of the first.

Holly Reinke (0-4) took the loss. She pitched the seventh inning and gave up three runs (all earned) on four hits.

Seven different Shockers recorded hits, as Cacy Williams, Melanie Jaegers and Kelli Spring had two apiece. Jaegers and Spring each scored two runs as well, as Williams and Ashley Johnson had two RBI apiece.

Danie Wikre was 1-3 with the grand slam, four RBI and a run scored.

Brittany Fortner's solo home run to deep right center gave the Shockers a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first. This was her first home run of the season, and the Shockers' first home run of the season as a team.

Colorado State answered with six runs on five hits during the bottom of the first, all with no outs.

Jaelyn Manzanares tied the game with a RBI-single to right center, scoring Haley Hutton from second. Taylor Hutton's RBI-single to short scored Haley David from third, giving the Rams a 2-1 lead. Two batters later, Wikre hit the grand slam to deep left center to push Colorado State's lead to 6-1.

Moments after the grand slam, Colorado State had runners second and third with just one out, but Brooks earned the last two outs to avoid further trouble and end the Colorado State rally.

During the top of the third, the Shockers had a chance to cut into their deficit with Spring on second and Mackenzie Wright on first with one out. Fortner hit into a fielder's choice at second, and Paige Mason popped out to first to end the Shocker threat without scoring any runs.

An error by Haley Hutton at short allowed Melanie Jaegers to reach base, and a pinch-hit walk by Macklin Hitz gave the Shockers their second run-scoring chance in as many innings, this time in the top of the fourth. Layne Greenlee popped out to right, Brianne Bond struck out in a pinch-hit appearance, and Kelli Spring grounded out to third to end the Wichita State rally.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Shockers scored four runs on just one hit, taking advantage of three Colorado State errors to cut their deficit to 6-5.

For the second time in three innings, Jaegers reached on an error, this time by pitcher Trinity Harrington, and Hitz walked for the second time to set up runners on first and second with no outs during the top of the sixth. A Greenlee sacrifice bunt moved Jaegers and Hitz to third and second respectively, with one out.

One batter later, Johnson reached on an error by Savan Clark, scoring Jaegers. Seconds later, Spring reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Hitz from third. Williams then singled up the middle as the second error of the inning by Clark, a throw that went from third to the right field corner, allowed Spring and Williams to score. This allowed the Shockers to make the game a one-run game, 6-5, heading into the top of the seventh.

Hunter Hogan (who pinch-ran for Liz Broyles) was on third and Jaegers was on second with one out in the top of the seventh with Erin Carney up to bat. She singled to center, scoring Hogan and tying the game at six. Johnson later reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Jaegers to score the go-ahead run to give the Shockers a 7-6 lead.

Two batters later, Williams' two-RBI single increased the Shocker lead to the 9-6 final score. Brooks sat down the Rams in order during the bottom of the seventh to secure WSU's fourth win of the season.

The Shockers will play Texas on Friday at 6:30 p.m. in their second game at the Getterman Classic. Friday night's game can be seen on the Longhorn Network.

-WICHITA STATE-