AUBURN, Ala. – Despite out-hitting the Furman Paladins, the Wichita State softball team fell on the final day of the Plainsman Invite 8-7 on a two-run walk-off home run at Jane B. Moore Field to move to 2-2 on the year.

The first four innings belonged to the Wichita State batters with freshman Bailee Nickerson continuing her strong weekend with a single into left field in the top of the first. Laurie Derrico singled to get on base with Madison Perrigan also singling through the left to get Nickerson home. Derrico came home on the same play following an overthrow from left field to make the score 2-0.

Bailey Lange got her third start of the weekend in the circle, pitching 4.2 innings with six strikeouts and got the Furman bats swinging early with two swinging strikeouts in the first. 

The second inning proved to be just as effective for the Shocker offense with Caitlin Bingham leading off the inning with a solo home run to left field. Mackenzie Wright doubled to deep center field with another deep double in the same spot from Paige Luellen getting Wright around the bases to make it 4-0. 

In the fourth Bingham singled again, advancing on a sacrifice bunt from Morgan Palmer. A wild pitch got her to third and a throwing error got her home to make it five. In the bottom half, a walk and a deep double to right field got the Paladins on the scoreboard.

In the top of the fifth Lange homered to right field to push the score back to 7-1 before the Paladin bats took over in the bottom half of the inning. A walk, single and wild pitch got runners on second and third with a single getting two around the bases. A two-run home run in the next at-bat cut the Shocker lead to 7-5 with Bingham taking over in the circle to get out of the inning.

The Shockers got runners on base in the sixth but couldn't take advantage and in the bottom half an error and two walks loaded the bases. Bailey Klitzke took over in the circle, walking one batter to cut the score to 7-6 before striking out the last. 

Two walks in the seventh got runners in position for Wichita State but again they couldn't take advantage and from there the grandstand finish was in position for Furman.

A groundout gave the Shockers a perfect start to the inning before another walk got the tying run at first. A swinging strikeout put Wichita State in position but a two-out two-run home run from the Furman pinch hitter gave them the walk off win.

The Shockers move to 2-2 on the season and look to bounce back next weekend at the Sam Houston State Tournament where they will face #4 Washington twice, Sam Houston State, Northern Colorado and Seton Hall over the three days.