STILLWATER, Okla. – The Wichita State softball team defeated Oklahoma State 11-8 on Wednesday night inside Cowgirl Stadium in Stillwater. With the win, the Shockers improved to 15-9 as the Cowgirls dropped to 9-13. Wichita State also increased their season-long winning streak to six games, and will take their six-game winning streak into Missouri Valley Conference play when they take on Indiana State on Saturday and Sunday.

Katie Malone picked up her eighth win of the season after pitching 6.1 innings while giving up five runs (four earned) on nine hits. Malone also walked two and struck out three.

Brandy Needham took the loss for the fourth time this season. She threw 4.2 innings while allowing seven runs (just one earned) on eight hits, walked two and struck out one.

Three Shockers recorded three or more hits against the Cowgirls, and seven different Shockers recorded a RBI.

Melanie Jaegers went 2-3 with a double, home run (her third of the season) and three RBI. She also threw out Shelby Davis at second base during the bottom of the fifth inning. By Jaegers hitting her third home run of the season, it extended her hitting streak to six games, and she's now recorded a hit in seven of her last eight games.

Brittany Fortner had her second-straight 4-5 game, as she doubled and had two RBI. Mackenzie Wright was 3-5 with a RBI, as Kelli Spring, Liz Broyles, Cacy Williams and Ashley Johnson also had RBI.

Shelby Davis had a four hit game, as she went 4-5 with a RBI.

As Johnson and Fortner collected hits as Spring had a sac bunt, this set up Johnson on third and Fortner on second with one out in the top of the third. Johnson was thrown out at third after a rundown during the Wright at bat, and then Broyles flied out to center to end the Shocker threat without scoring any runs.

Jaegers hit a solo home run, her third of the season, to give the Shockers a 1-0 lead after the top of the fourth. 

The Cowgirls answered the Jaegers solo home run with a solo home run of their own in the bottom of the fourth, when Tiffany Mikkelson hit a towering home run to deep center field to tie the game at one apiece on a 3-0 count.

Wichita State scored nine runs on six hits, but was aided by two Cowgirl errors to take a 10-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth, with the eight run-rule in effect. All nine of Wichita State's runs were scored with two outs.

A an error at shortstop by Randee O'Donnell allowed the top of the fifth inning to continue after two outs were made by the Shockers. Moments after the first error, the Shockers scored two runs. As Williams singled to left and advanced to second on the throw, Broyles advanced to third due to an error by the catcher that allowed Wright to score from third. After the second error, the Shockers scored seven runs on four hits to take the 10-1 lead.

Oklahoma State threatened to extend the game with runners on first and third with one out. Jaegers threw out Davis as she was attempting to steal second, but  Shianne Hughes singled down the left field line, scoring Miranda Calvin to cut the Shocker lead to 10-2. Mikkelson then singled, scoring Hughes to trim the Wichita State lead further, as the Shockers were forced to continue the game as they led 10-3 after five innings.

The Cowgirls scored three more runs on two hits as one Shocker error allowed Oklahoma State to pull within four at 10-6 through six innings. As Jenni Brooks pitched in relief of Malone, an RBI groundout by Cavin scored Maddi Holcomb to make the score 10-4. Moments later, Davis singled to short, scoring McKee that moved the Cowgirls closer at 10-5. Kelsey Sterneker then entered the game in relief, and a single by Hughes allowed DeLaCruz to score and the Cowgirls to move within four of Wichita State through six innings.

Fortner doubled to deep left center with one out in the top of the seventh. As she was rounding second to advance to third, Holcomb committed a throwing error that saw the ball bounce into the stands. This forced Fortner home to give the Shockers an 11-6 lead.

Oklahoma State pulled to within three of the Shockers after a two-RBI double from DeLaCruz with one out in the bottom of the seventh scored both Taylor and Holcomb. Malone, who re-entered the game in the bottom of the sixth, retired the final two batters to secure the 11-8 win for the Shockers.

The Shockers return home on Saturday to open Missouri Valley Conference play when they face Indiana State at noon and 2 p.m. inside Wilkins Stadium. 

-WICHITA STATE-