WICHITA, Kan. - The Shockers look to get back on track, as they travel to Loyola this weekend, after dropping two of three games last weekend against Illinois State.
 

WICHITA STATE SOFTBALL

Chicago, Ill.

Loyola Softball Park

GAME 30

Wichita State (17-12, 4-2)   Loyola (17-11, 0-6)

Saturday, April 1

12 P.M. CT

The Valley on ESPN3

WatchESPN3

Live Stats

GAME 31

Wichita State (17-12, 4-2)   Loyola (17-11, 0-6)

Saturday, April 1

2:30 P.M. CT

The Valley on ESPN3

WatchESPN3

Live Stats

GAME 32

Wichita State (17-12, 4-2)   Loyola (17-11, 0-6)

Sunday, April 2

11 A.M. CT

The Valley on ESPN3

WatchESPN3

Live Stats

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Scouting Loyola: The Ramblers got off to a hot start in non-conference play, winning their first 14 games before falling to Alabama. They have now started Missouri Valley Conference play with an 0-6 record.

Shannon McGee has led the way offensively, hitting, .294 overall and driving in 18 runs.

The Ramblers have two pitchers with over 75 innings pitched this year with Kiley Jones collecting 120 innings with an ERA of 2.40, while Keenan Dolezal has 76 innings and an ERA of 3.32.

Last season, the Shockers swept Loyola, winning, 5-0, 7-2 and 8-0.

Shockers News and Notes: After beginning conference play 3-0, the Shockers fell in two out of three games last weekend agaisnt Illinois State.

The Shockers had started conference play 3-0 for the first time since 2007. In 2007, the Shockers also swept Drake at home to begin MVC play.

In the most recent RPI ranking, the Shockers are placed at 74th.

Wichita State finished the Tulsa Invitational on a strong note, defeating Tulsa for the fourth time in the last two years. This win snapped a five game losing streak for the Shockers, with losses to North Texas, UTEP, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Montana.

Senior Katie Malone is currently 10th in the nation with 15 wins.

The Shockers are also first in the Missouri Valley in batting average at .324, first in slugging percentage (.506), first in hits (259), first in RBI (152), first in doubles with 47 and first in home runs with 31.

Senior Katie Malone leads the Missouri Valley in innings pitched (132.0), wins (15) and is second in the Valley in total strikeouts (103).

The first two home games of the year brought in 1,113 people and 1,115 people respectively, both setting new Wilkins Stadium record.

Mackenzie Wright hit .435 in six games and earning Missouri Valley Player of the week for the week of March 6.

Katie Malone went a perfect 5-0 in Arlington, throwing 29.1 innings, earning her Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week for the week of Feb. 27.

So far this season, the Shocker offense has been led by Kelli Spring who is hitting .380 and by Mackenzie Wright who is hitting .374.

The Shockers have a team ERA of 3.19, with senior Katie Malone throwing 132.0 innings, with a record of 15-7 while freshman Bailey Klitzke has thrown 35.0 innings and has an ERA of 4.20. Jenni Brooks has now made eight appearances and has thrown 24.0 innings and allowed 18 earned runs for an ERA of 5.25.

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.

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 seventh in batting average (.331), third in slugging percentage (.593), third in on-base percentage (.446) and 10th in walks (75).

Along with Luellen breaking records, senior pitcher Katie Malone is also climbing the ranks as she finishes her senior year. She is third all-time with 60 wins, second all-time with 11 saves, fourth all-time with 146 appearances, fourth all-time with 101 games started and fifth all-time with 399 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.