WICHITA, Kan. - Taking a break from MVC play, the Wichita State softball team will host Tulsa on Thursday at 6 p.m., for a non-conference matchup inside Wilkins Stadium.
Scouting [RV]Â Tulsa: The Golden Hurricane have got off to a good start, beginning the 2017 season with an overall record of 25-11, and beginning conference play at 5-1.
Julia Hollingsworth has led the offense, as she is hitting .393 and has started all 36 games. Maggie Withee is close behind, with an average of .381, and has also started every game.
The Golden Hurricane have two pitchers with at least 50 innings. Emily Watson has thrown a majority of the innings, throwing 135.0 innings, with a record of 18-3 and an ERA of 1.19, while Lexi Blevins has thrown 56.1 innings and an ERA of 3.60.
The Shockers have now won five straight games against the Golden Hurricane, including once this season, defeating them 5-3 in the Tulsa Invitational.
Shockers News and Notes: Last weekend, the Shockers traveled to Chicago, Ill., to take on Loyola in a three game series, defeating the Ramblers in two of the three games to move their MVC record to 6-3, while their overall record of 19-13.
With her third appearance of the weekend at Loyola, senior
Katie Malone has taken over sole possession of first in all-time appearances as a Shocker.
Madison Perrigan has a six game hitting streak, while
McKenzie Adams has an eight game hitting streak.
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 69th.
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 7th in the nation with 17 wins.
The Shockers are also first in the Missouri Valley in batting average at .317, first in slugging percentage (.498), first in on-base percentage (.390), first in hits (279), first in RBI (157), first in doubles with 51 and first in home runs with 34.
Both
Madison Perrigan and
Laurie Derrico are tied for the lead in the Valley with eight home runs.
Senior
Katie Malone leads the Missouri Valley in innings pitched (152.1), wins (17) and is second in the Valley in total strikeouts (116).
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 .369 and by
Mackenzie Wright who is hitting .364.
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 (.324), third in slugging percentage (.594), third in on-base percentage (.445) and tied for fourth in walks (84).
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 67 wins, second all-time with 11 saves, fourth all-time with 109 games started and fourth all-time with 436 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.
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