|  Game 1 Box Score (PDF) |  Game 2 Box Score (PDF)

WICHITA, Kan. – On the first day of Missouri Valley Conference play, the Wichita State softball team split with Northern Iowa, defeating the Panthers 3-2 and losing 11-7 in the second game of the day.

On the day, the Shockers were led by senior Cacy Williams who collected three hits in six at-bats and also hit two homeruns. Senior Brittany also had two doubles in game two, putting her four doubles shy of tying the all-time record for doubles in a career at Wichita State.

In game one, Katie Malone got the start in the circle and pitched five strong innings only allowing five hits and two runs to receive the win and push her record to 5-4. Jenni
Brooks pitched the final two innings, recording her second save on the season.

Northern Iowa struck first in the third inning after Chelsea Ross hit a two-run home run to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead.

After being no-hit through three innings, Williams came to the plate with Macklin Hitz on first base. Williams crushed a home run to tie the game at two, heading into the fifth inning.

After Malone didn't allow a run in the top of the fifth the Shockers were able to tack on one more run on a single to right field by Williams. Brooks entered the game in the sixth and pitched two perfect innings to give the Shockers a 3-2 victory.

To start game two, the Panthers jumped out to another lead, scoring three runs off two home runs in the top of the first inning.

Wichita State did not back down, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first to give the Shockers a 4-3 lead, but the Panthers added three more runs in the top of the second inning, giving Northern Iowa a 6-4 lead.

In the bottom of the third, Williams cut the lead to one on a solo home run. The Panthers responded in the fifth inning, tacking on five runs and push the lead to 11-5.

Wichita State added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh after a double by Fortner and a home run to left-center by Hitz, but were unable to finish the comeback, losing 11-7.

Wichita State is now 13-10 overall and 1-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference and will be in action again tomorrow as the Shockers take on Northern Iowa in the third and final game of the series beginning at 12 p.m.