Date: April 20, 2016
Location: Springfield, Mo.
Stadium: Killian Sports Complex
Live Stats: Game 1 
Live Stats: Game 2 
Live Video: Watch
Live Audio: Listen
Series: Missouri State leads, 51-46
 
Scouting Missouri State:
The Bears have started the season with an overall record of 16-23 and 5-8 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Missouri State is coming off a very strong weekend taking two of their three games against undefeated Drake, ending a losing streak of four games.
 
So far this season, the Bears have been led by Erin Duewel who has started all 39 games and has a batting average of .288. She leads the team in hits (34), doubles (6), home runs (8) and RBI (29).
 
In the circle, Erin Struemph has thrown 120.2 innings and has an ERA of 3.31 with a win-loss record of 10-12. She has 12 complete games, and 132 strikeouts while holding opponents to a batting average of .234.
 
Series: Wichita State is 46-51 all-time against the Bears and holds a 6-6 record against them since Bredbenner has taken over. The last time these two teams faced off was last season when the Shockers took two of three games, losing the first, 6-2, and winning the next two, 6-4 and 10-6.
 
Shockers News and Notes:
2016: After finishing their eighth and ninth games against top-25 opponents, the Shockers headed home to host Bradley. On the weekend, the Shockers had two wins by one run, defeating Bradley 8-7 and 11-10. The third game of the series was cancelled due to rain.
 
So far this season, the Shockers have been led by Macklin Hitz who is hitting .372 with four doubles, seven home runs and 33 RBI. Hitz also has 19 walks on the season. Brittany Fortner has also contributed to the Shockers success, hitting .339 with 13 doubles, three home runs and 17 RBI.
 
Wichita State has two pitchers with over 95 innings pitched with Jenni Brooks with 95.1 and Katie Malone with 103.0. Brooks has an ERA of 3.23 and an overall record of 12-6. Brooks also holds an opponent batting average of .271. Malone has a record of 8-6 and an ERA of 4.96 and leads the pitching staff with 54 strikeouts.
 
But does she get on base?
Paige Luellen had reached base in the first 28 games for the Shockers this season, but ended her 33 game on-base streak at Kansas on March 29.
 
2015 In Review: Wichita State finished the 2015 season with an overall record of 34-23 and a 16-11 record in the Missouri Valley Conference giving the Shockers a fourth place finish.
 
Eight of Nine Starters Returning: Wichita State is returning every starter from the 2015 team except catcher Melanie Jaegers, who was a big contributor for the Shockers, hitting .282 and starting all 57 games. Among the position starters returning for Wichita State is Cacy Williams (first base/right field), Liz Broyles (second base), Kelli Spring (shortstop), Mackenzie Wright (third base), Brittany Fortner (left field), Ashley Johnson (center field) and Macklin Hitz (first base). Overall, these returners combined for a batting average of .328 while collecting 202 of the team's 272 RBIs and also hitting 35 of the team's 44 homeruns.
 
2015 All-MVC: The trio of returners, Fortner, Wright and Williams, along with Jaegers who graduated were all named 2015 First Team All-MVC, while Malone, Broyles and Spring were named Second Team All-MVC.
 
Fortner's Historic Season: Fortner finished her junior season with a .416 batting average (second in team history for a single season, tied for the Valley lead), 74 hits (tied the all-time hits record in a season in team history, led the Valley), 47 runs scored (led the Valley, third in team history for a single season), 45 RBIs (third in the Valley, third all-time in a single season in team history), 18 doubles (tied for second in the Valley, set the all-time team mark for doubles in a single season this season), 121 total bases (second in the Valley, second all-time in a single season in WSU SB history), a .502 OB% (second in the Valley) and 0.82 runs scored per game (led the Valley)
 
Climbing the ranks: After collecting one double against Bradley, Brittany Fortner has taken over first place all-time in the Shocker record book with 54 doubles, needing just three more to take over sole possession first place in the Missouri Valley Conference record books.
 
Williams is also tied for seventh in doubles (34).
 
Williams is in fourth place with 121 runs scored needing just six more to jump into the top three.
 
Fortner is also tied for fourth in hits (207), eighth in homeruns (20), sixth in RBI (109), fourth in total bases (325) and eighth in walks (77).
 
Williams is also second in homeruns (33) and third in RBI (120).
 
Missouri Valley favorites: Wichita State was picked as the 2016 MVC preseason favorite, as voted on by the Valley coaches. The Shockers collected 84 points and three first-place votes to make this the second year in a row that the Shockers have been the Missouri Valley favorites.
 
2016 Preseason All-MVC: After being named to the All-MVC First Team a season ago, Fortner, Wright and Williams have all been selected for the preseason All-MVC First Team.