HOUSTON, Texas – Scoring 16 runs on the day, the Shockers defeated Wright State and UC Santa Barbara on the first day of the Hilton Plaza Invitational by scores of 10-2, and 6-1.
 
Macklin Hitz picked up three hits on the day, including one home run. She also collected six RBI on the day. Kelli Spring also added five hits, while scoring three runs for the Shockers.
 
Katie Malone got the start in game one throwing three innings and not allowing a hit to receive her first win of the season. Freshman Bailey Klitzke finished the game, throwing the last two innings and allowing two unearned runs.
 
Wichita State got a quick start in the bottom of the second, batting around in the order and scoring seven runs. Ashley Johnson, Mackenzie Wright, Kelli Spring, Macklin Hitz, and Madison Perrigan all had hits in the inning, with Cassidy Kelsheimer, and Paige Luellen drawing walks.
 
In the third inning, Wright scored on a wild pitch to make the score 8-0.
 
In the top of the fifth, the Raiders were able to scratch across two runs on a bases loaded single down the right field line, making the score 8-2.
 
In the bottom of the fifth with runners on second and third, Kelsheimer got in a rundown between third and home but was able to score anyway. After a sacrifice fly from Wright, the Shockers were able to finish the game in just five innings, run-ruling the Raiders, 10-2.
 
Katie Malone also started game two for the Shockers in the circle, throwing all seven innings and receiving her second win in as many starts.
 
Luellen started the scoring in game two, hitting her first home run of the year, scoring Kelli Spring to take an early 2-0 lead in the third inning.
 
In the top of the fifth, Hitz hit a three-run home run over the left field wall to push the lead to 5-0.
 
The Gauchos scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth, cutting the lead to 5-1.
 
In the sixth, the Shockers added a run on two errors by UCSB to push the lead back to five, 6-1.
The Gauchos went three up and three down in the seventh to give Wichita State the 6-1 victory.
 
The Shockers will be in action again tomorrow as they take on UCSB at 9 a.m., and Houston at 2 p.m.

Follow the Shockers
Download the official mobile app of Wichita State Athletics - Go Shockers. Now, you can stay in touch with the Shockers anytime, anywhere, on your Android or iOS mobile device.

Sign up now for the new and improved Shocker Mail. Get weekly updates on promotions, tickets, events and everything else Wichita State Athletics delivered straight to your inbox.