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COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Following a split on day one, the Wichita State softball team split again on Saturday, defeating Colorado State, 9-8, but falling to No. 7 UCLA, 6-5.

On the day, the Shockers were led by Mackenzie Wright who collected a total of five hits, one against Colorado State and three against UCLA. She also was able to drive in three runs, all three coming from the UCLA game.

In game one, the Shockers were out-hit, 14-10 but were able to drive in nine runs while Colorado State was only able to collect eight. Colorado State also left 12 runners on base while Wichita State only left six.

Colorado State started the game strong, scoring two runs in the top of the first after starting the inning with back-to-back singles.

The Shockers quickly bounced back after a leadoff double by Mackenzie Wright. The Shockers were able to manufacture three runs on just three hits in the bottom of the first, taking a 3-2 lead into the second inning.

After two scoreless innings, the Rams were able to push across two runs in the top of the fourth inning and two more in the top of the fifth.
Wichita State was not done battling, scoring four in the bottom of the fifth with Mackenzie Wright leading off the inning with a walk and three straight hits from Kelli Spring, Brittany Fortner and Paige Luellen.

Colorado State added one run in the sixth and one run in the seventh to take a one run lead with the Shockers only three outs away from a loss, but the Shockers scored one in the seventh, almost scoring a second run to win the game but were thrown out at home.

Again in extra innings, the tournament uses the International tie-breaker which places a runner at second base.

The Shockers held the Rams silent in the eight and with Kaylee Huecker on second, after a sacrifice bunt by Cassidy Kelsheimer, freshman Laurie Anne Derrico came through in the clutch, collecting her first walk-off hit of her career and giving the Shockers a 9-8 victory in game one.

In game two of the day, the Shockers faced off against the No. 7 UCLA Bruins. The Shockers out-hit the Bruins, 11-9, but fell just short, leaving 11 runners on base.

Wichita State did not back down from the challenge, scoring in the first inning off of a double by Paige Luellen.

Wichita State then gave up two runs in the bottom of the first but quickly came back and tied the game at two in the top of the second inning.

In the bottom of the third inning the Bruins pushed across three runs and again, the Shockers answered the challenge, after Laurie Anne Derrico hit her first homerun of her career and then back-to-back singles by Cassidy Kelsheimer and Ashley Johnson. Going into the fifth inning, the game was tied at five.

In the bottom of the fifth, UCLA scored one more run and the Shockers were unable to make a comeback and lost to No. 7 UCLA, 6-5.
The Shockers are now 2-2 overall and will be in action again on Sun., Feb. 14, at 12:15. The Shockers will be facing No. 24 Texas A&M on the last day of the Aggie Classic.