WICHITA, Kan. - Coming off a strong weekend in Houston, Texas, the Wichita State softball team will look to continue its perfect start at the Littlewood Classic in Tempe, Ariz. At the tournament, the Shockers will take on South Dakota twice, Arizona State and No. 17 Missouri.
Scouting South Dakota: The Coyotes began the season 1-4 last weekend in California, with their only win coming against Long Beach State, 1-0.
In five games, the Coyotes have been led by Shelby Keil who has hit .308 in the first weekend and also collecting two walks.
The Coyotes finished the 2016 season with a record of 15-38 and 8-9 in the Summit League.
The Shockers are 3-0 all-time against South Dakota, with head coach Kristi Bredbenner being 2-0 vs. the Coyotes.
Scouting Arizona State: Arizona State started things out on the right foot last weekend, with wins against Indiana, Purdue and Texas-Arlington, for a record of 7-0.
The Sun Devils' pitching staff, led by returners Dale Ryndak and Breanna Macha, combined for 42 strikeouts and just three walks.
Arizona State returns three of its top hitters from 2016, including sophomore Ulufa Leilua, who led the team with a .368 average last season with six home runs and 21 RBIs.
The Shockers are just 1-3 agasint the Sun Devils, with 2012 being the last time that the two teams have faced off.
Scouting No. 17 Missouri: In 2016, the Tigers ended the season with a record of 42-16 and ended up splitting with James Madison on the first weekend of the 2017 season.
This year, the Tigers brought in eight newcomers and returned six starters from last season.
So far this season, Missouri is 4-1, falling to James Madison in their first game of the year.
The Shockers are 2-21 against the Tigers all-time, with the last meeting coming last year when the Shockers were swept in a two game series in Columbia, Mo.
Shockers News and Notes:
After finishing the first weekend in Houston, Texas with a record of 4-0, the Shockers look to continue their hot streak in Tempe, Ariz. The Shockers will take on South Dakota twice, Arizona State and No. 17 Missouri.
On the first weekend, Macklin Hitz led the Shocker offense with a batting average of .429, while hitting three home runs on six hits and also driving in eight runs for the Shockers. Mackenzie Wright, Kelli Spring and Mauriana Jamele helped lead the Shockers with batting averages of .545, .500 and .500 respectively.
Katie Malone started three of the four games for the Shockers, throwing 18.2 innings and just allowing an ERA of 0.38, throwing two complete games.
Wichita State finished the 2016 regular season winning 12 of their last 13 games, with a 12 game winning streak being the second longest in school history.
After winning the regular season championship, the Shockers then went on to win the Missouri Valley Tournament Championship, winning both for the first time in school history.
Wichita State then was selected for the 2016 NCAA Regional in Oklahoma, falling to Oklahoma and Ole Miss, but defeating Tulsa for Wichita State's first win in an NCAA Regional.
The Shockers will return four of the seven athletes who recieved All-MVC honors in 2016, including Paige Luellen, Jenni Brooks, Mackenzie Wright and Macklin Hitz.
Paige Luellen had reached base in the first 28 games for the Shockers in 2016, but ended her 33 game on-base streak at Kansas last Tuesday.
Wichita State lost two giant bats from 2016 in Cacy Williams and Brittany Fortner, but look to pick up where they left off, bringing in eight newcomers to battle for playing time with the 8 returning starters from a year ago. Returning starters for the Shockers are Kelli Spring, Laurie Derrico, Mackenzie Wright, Ashley Johnson, Paige Luellen, Macklin Hitz, Jenni Brooks and Katie Malone.
The Shockers also return three other position players including, McKenzie Adams who played in 22 games in 2016, hitting .212. Mauriana Jamele, Kennedy Long, Cassidy Kelsheimer, Bethany Canada and Kaylee Huecker will also return in 2017.
Wichita State returns seniors Katie Malone, who made the most starts among the pitching staff (43) a season ago, and Jenni Brooks, who led the team in ERA (3.23), wins (18), and was second in starts (21), and innings pitched (136.1).
Malone appeared in 43 games while starting 26 for the Shockers. During those 43 appearances (which led the team), she also was second on the team in wins (15), strikeouts (78), complete games (11) and second on the team with an ERA of 4.18. Brooks appeared in 38 games for the Shockers, collecting 18 wins and holding opposing hitters to an average of .271. The Shockers have also brought in two newcomers that will pitch for the Shockers in Bailey Klitzke and Morgan Palmer.
In just her junior season, Paige Luellen is beginning to work her way up the Shocker record book, currently in fifth in batting average (.337), second in slugging percentage (.600), first in on-base percentage (.459) and 13th in walks (68).
Along with Luellen breaking records, senior pitcher Katie Malone is also climbing the ranks with a full seasons still to play. She is fourth all-time with 50 wins, second all-time with 11 saves, fifth all-time with 125 appearances, tied for sixth all-time with 88 games started and seventh all-time with 320 strikeouts.
Head coach Kristi Bredbenner is entering her sixth season with the Shockers after coaching at Emporia State prior to taking the job at Wichita State.
Wichita State was picked second in the 2016 MVC preseason poll, as voted on by the Valley coaches. The Shockers collected 88 points and three first-place votes. Drake was picked first with 92 points and six first place votes.
Two Shockers were named to the 2017 Preseason First Team All-MVC, including Wright and Hitz.
