CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Wichita State softball team has won the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, defeating No. 2 Drake in the championship game by a score of 5-0, marking the first conference championship since 1989 when the Shockers were in the Gateway Conference.

Jenni Brooks got here second start in two days and was able to throw 4.2 innings and striking out two batters to receive her second win in this year's tournament. Katie Malone entered the game with two outs in the fifth and received her fifth save of the season and second in two days.

The Bulldogs had runners on first and second with no outs in the first inning, but after a line drive double play and a strikeout, Brooks worked out of a jam to keep the game scoreless, going into the bottom of the first.

In the bottom of the second, Brittany Fortner led off the inning with a double to leftfield for her 57^th of her career to set a new Missouri Valley career record. A sacrifice bunt by Macklin Hitz and a sacrifice fly from Ashley Johnson scored Fortner to give the Shockers a 1-0 lead.

Again in the third, Drake was threatening with runners on first and second with one out, but another line out, this time to Cacy Williams who stepped on first for the double play ended the inning, keeping the Shockers lead at 1-0.

For the third time in the game, the Bulldogs threatened with runners on first and third with one out, but a third line out double play, ended the innings for Drake and kept the Shockers' lead at 1-0.

With runners on first and second and no outs in the bottom of the fifth, Williams hit an infield single that deflected of the second baseman's glove to score Laurie Anne Derrico from second and advance Spring to third and Williams to second to push the Shockers' lead to 2-0.

A double to right center by Mackenzie Wright, scored Spring and Williams to push the lead to 4-0.

Fortner then drove in Wright with her second double of the day down the left field line to make the score 5-0.

Malone sat down the Bulldogs in the top of the sixth in order for the first time in the game. After the Shockers went three-up three-down, Malone got Drake in order to win their first MVC Tournament Championship and second conference championship in school history, 5-0.

The Shockers will represent the Missouri Valley Conference in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005 when the Shockers received an at-large bid. Wichita State will know when they will play again tomorrow, during the NCAA Tournament selection show on ESPNU at 10 p.m., eastern time.

The Shockers will hold a watch party at Charles Koch Arena for the selection show. More details about the event will be posted later this afternoon.

All-Tournament Team
Rachel Huggins, DP-UT/NP – Bradley
Michal Luckett, SS – Evansville
Erin Struemph, P – Missouri State
Chelsea Ross, UT/P – Northern Iowa
Kelsey Gonzalez, SS – Southern Illinois
Brianna Jones, P – Southern Illinois
Regan Romshek, UT/P – Illinois State
Riley Strandgard, SS – Illinois State
Laurie Anne Derrico, SS – Wichita State
Nicole Newman, P – Drake
Katie Malone, P – Wichita State
Kelsey Wright, OF – Drake
Jenni Brooks, P – Wichita State
Kailee Smith, 1B – Drake
Tournament MVP: Brittany Fortner, OF – Wichita State