By: Wichita State
WICHITA, Kan.—Wichita State's softball team tied their longest winning streak of 2015 at six games when they defeated Illinois State by a score of 5-1 on Sunday afternoon inside Wilkins Stadium to sweep the weekend series. With the win, Wichita State improved to 25-19 (7-8 MVC) as Illinois State fell to 18-24 (9-6 MVC).
As the Shockers are on their second six-game winning streak of the season, they have also won nine of their last 10 games. During the nine wins out of their last 10 games, the Shockers have won five Missouri Valley Conference games in a row and six of their last seven. Wichita State is now in a tie with Southern Illinois for seventh-place in the Valley standings.
Katie Malone picked up her 15th win of the season as she pitched a complete game. She allowed one run on eight hits, walked one and struck out four. By Malone picking up her 15th win of the season on Sunday, she earned the win in all three games against Illinois State this weekend.
This is also the seventh start of the season in which Malone allowed just one run. During those seven starts, the Shockers have won all seven. Malone has her own personal winning streak, as she's won her last five starts.
Sarah Finck took her third loss of the season, and the second loss of the series. She pitched 3.1 innings, allowed two runs (both earned) on four hits, walked two and struck out three.
Ashley Johnson led the way for the Shockers in the hit column, as she went 3-1 with a RBI and a run scored. Macklin Hitz and Cacy Williams were both 1-3 with two RBI's. Brittany Fortner, Mackenzie Wright, Mackenzie Adams and Kennedy Long (as a pinch-hitter) also recorded hits. Wright stole her team-leading 13th base of the season, as Melanie Jaegers threw out a runner attempting to steal second.
Kelsey Turczyn was 2-3 with a homer, RBI and a run scored.
A single by de los Reyes and a double by Regan Romshek set up runners on second (Romshek) and third (Jordan de los Reyes) with one out in the top of the first. Malone forced a Stephanie Gallant popup to Layne Greenlee, and a groundout to Wright to escape the top of the first without allowing any Redbird runs to score.
Kelsey Turczyn led off the top of the second with a homer to deep center to give the Redbirds a 1-0 lead.
Through the first three innings, a pitcher's duel ensued. As Malone allowed a run on six hits, Finck allowed just one hit.
Malone's ability to hold the Redbirds to one run through the first four innings was vital for the Shockers. Wichita State went on to score two runs from a two-RBI single from Hitz, giving the Shockers a 2-1 lead after four innings.
Wichita State scored three runs on four hits to take a 5-1 lead heading into the top-half of the seventh, all with two outs.
Hits by Long (who pinch-hit for Jaegers) and Adams set up runners on second (Adams) and third (Jaegers, who re-entered for Long) with two outs. Johnson's third hit of the day scored Jaegers to give the Shockers a 3-1 lead. Moments later, Williams doubled to left field, scoring both Johnson and Adams to increase Wichita State's lead to 5-1 after six innings.
Malone allowed a leadoff walk in the top of the seventh, but retired the next three batters to secure the 5-1 win for the Shockers.
Wichita State completes their six-game homestand when they face Missouri State in a Wednesday midweek doubleheader inside Wilkins Stadium at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
-WICHITA STATE-
