WICHITA, Kan. - The Wichita State softball team continues Missouri Valley Conference play this weekend, as they travel to Peoria, Ill., to take on Bradley in a three-game series, beginning on Saturday at 11 a.m.
 

WICHITA STATE SOFTBALL

Peoria, Ill.

Petersen Hotels Field

GAME 34

Wichita State (19-13, 6-3 MVC)   Bradley (18-18, 4-5 MVC)

Saturday, April 8

11 A.M. CT

The Valley on ESPN3

WatchESPN3

Live Stats

GAME 35

Wichita State (19-13, 6-3 MVC)   Bradley (18-18, 4-5 MVC)

Saturday, April 8

1:30 P.M. CT

The Valley on ESPN3

WatchESPN3

Live Stats

GAME 36

Wichita State (19-13, 6-3 MVC)    Bradley (18-18, 4-5 MVC)

Sunday, April 9

11 A.M. CT

The Valley on ESPN3

WatchESPN3

Live Stats

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Scouting Bradley: The Braves have started the 2017 season with an even 18-18 record overall, with a record of 4-5 in MVC play, with one win against Southern Illinois, two wins against Evansville and one win against Missouri State.

Kelly Kapp has led the way for the Braves as she has hit .467 on the year, starting all 36 games for Bradley. Caitlyn McCarron is second on the team in batting average, hitting .452, while leading the team with five home runs. She is also second on the team with 34 RBI.

With 36 games played, the Braves have three pitchers with at least three wins, including Jaelen Hull who leads the team with an ERA of 2.75, eight wins and also has three saves. Julie Kestas leads the team with 78.1 innings pitched and has an ERA of 4.20. Emily Visnic has three wins on the year and has an ERA of 3.81 in 57.0 innings.

The Shockers swept the Braves in two games last season by scores of 8-7 and 11-10, with the final game of the series being cancelled due to rain.

Shockers News and Notes: The Shockers are coming off a come from behind win over Tulsa, scoring two runs in the sixth to defeat the Golden Hurricane, 2-1, marking their sixth straight win over Tulsa.

Madison Perrigan is currently on a seven game hitting streak.

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.

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 tied for fifth in the nation with 18 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 (159.1), wins (18) and is second in the Valley in total strikeouts (120).

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 .371 and by Mackenzie Wright who is hitting .356.

The Shockers have a team ERA of 2.89, with senior Katie Malone throwing 159.1 innings, with a record of 18-8 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.

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 eighth in batting average (.322), third in slugging percentage (.589), third in on-base percentage (.442) 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 68 wins, second all-time with 11 saves, first all-time with 158 appearances, tied for third all-time with 110 games started and fourth all-time with 440 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 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.