WICHITA, Kan. - Coming off a strong mid-week performance against Kansas, the Wichita State softball team is back in action this weekend, as they host Indiana State in a three game series beginning on Friday at 3 p.m.
 

WICHITA STATE SOFTBALL

Wichita, Kan.

Wilkins Stadium

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GAME 38

Wichita State (23-14, 8-4 MVC)   Indiana State (18-19, 3-9 MVC)

Friday, April 14

3 P.M. CT

The Valley on ESPN3

WatchESPN3

Live Stats

GAME 39

Wichita State (23-14, 8-4 MVC)   Indiana State (18-19, 3-9 MVC)

Friday, April 14

5:30 P.M. CT

The Valley on ESPN3

WatchESPN3

Live Stats

GAME 40

Wichita State (23-14, 8-4 MVC)    Indiana State (18-19, 3-9 MVC)

Saturday, April 15

11 A.M. CT

The Valley on ESPN3

WatchESPN3

Live Stats

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Scouting Indiana State: The Sycamores have started the 2017 season with an overall record of 18-19 and have a 3-9 record in MVC play and are tied for eighth place. The team's three wins came against Northern Iowa (2), and Missouri State.

Offensively, Leslie Sims has led the way, playing in all 37 games and starting 28. She has a batting average of .420 and has one home run. Kassie Brown has started all 37 games and is hitting .309 with six RBI. Brooke Mann leads the team with six home runs.

Kenzie Ihle has thrown 135.2 of the team's 252.1 innings and has a record of 13-10 with eight complete games and an ERA of 3.66. Della Gher has a record of 3-0 and an ERA of 4.11 while Kylie Stober has an ERA of 4.48 and a record of 2-9.

The Shockers defeated the Sycamores twice last season, winning 7-2 and 3-2, before the final game on Sunday was cancelled.

Shockers News and Notes: The Shockers are coming off a very strong showing against in-state rival Kansas, defeating the Jayhawks by a score of 6-0. 

Head coach Kristi Bredbenner needs just eight wins to move into second all-time in Wichita State history for wins. She also needs just 13 wins to reach 500 in her career.

Madison Perrigan is currently on a 11 on-base streak.

Senior Katie Malone has now collected 70 wins in her career, ranking third all-time in Wichita State history. She just needs seven more wins to move into a tie for first place all-time at 77 wins.

The Shockers have five players that have started all 36 games this season, and every one of them holds a batting average of at least .300, to help Wichita State to a combined .312 batting average.

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 65th.

Senior Katie Malone is currently tied for fourth in the nation with 20 wins, setting a new career high.

The Shockers are also first in the Missouri Valley in batting average at .312, first in slugging percentage (.481), first in on-base percentage (.386), first in runs scored (202), first in hits (314), first in RBI (180), first in doubles with 56 and first in home runs with 35.

Both Madison Perrigan and Laurie Derrico are tied for third in the Valley with eight home runs.

Senior Katie Malone leads the Missouri Valley in innings pitched (172.1), wins (20) and is second in the Valley in total strikeouts (129).

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 earned 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 .373 and by Mackenzie Wright who is hitting .372.

The Shockers have a team ERA of 2.79, with senior Katie Malone throwing 172.1 innings, with a record of 20-8 while freshman Bailey Klitzke has thrown 35.0 innings and has an ERA of 4.20. Jenni Brooks has now made 11 appearances and has thrown 36.0 innings and allowed 21 earned runs for an ERA of 3.89.

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.

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. 

In just her junior season, Paige Luellen is beginning to work her way up the Shocker record book, currently in ninth in batting average (.319), fifth in slugging percentage (.582), third in on-base percentage (.440) and tied for fourth in walks (86).

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 70 wins, second all-time with 11 saves, first all-time with 160 appearances, tied for second all-time with 112 games started and fourth all-time with 449 strikeouts.

Head coach Kristi Bredbenner is entering her sixth season with the Shockers after coaching at Emporia State.

Wichita State was picked second in the 2017 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.