HUNSTVILLE, Texas – The Wichita State softball team defeated Northern Colorado, 7-1, in game one of a doubleheader on day two of the Bearkcat Classic with head coach
Kristi Bredbenner earning her 500th career win as a head coach.
Mackenzie Wright led the Shocker offense going 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
Bailey Lange started in the circle, pitching five innings and striking out seven.
The Shocker bats came alive early with Wright leading off with a single through the middle.
Ryleigh Buck bunted to get Wright to third with an error getting her home and Buck to second.
Bailee Nickerson reached on another error with Buck scoring before
Laurie Derrico walked.
Caitlin Bingham reached on the third error of the inning to load the bases before Lange ground out to get Nickerson round.
Asea Webber singled to get Derrico home and upping the score to 4-0.
Lange started in the circle for the second straight game and continued where she left off, getting the batters swinging early.
Morgan Palmer started the second by drawing a walk with Wright doubling deep down the left field line to get runners at second and third. Nickerson flew out to center field to get Palmer home and making the score 5-0. Lange struck out two in the bottom half to keep the Bears off the scoreboard.
The third inning proved to be equally as interesting as the first. Bingham singled to left-center, advanced to second on a wild pitch, to third on a passed ball and scored on a muffed throw at third base. Lange singled then stole second and eventually scored on a passed ball to make it 7-0.
In the bottom half Lange walked two with a single loading the bases. A nasty looking strikeout and smart double play by Wright to tag up third and throw to first for the double play kept the Bears at bay.
The Shockers couldn't get on the board in the fourth or fifth. Lange struck out another three but a double got a Bear home to cut the score to 7-1.
Bingham took over in the circle in the sixth, pitching the final two innings with one strikeout. Lange got the win (3-1) with the Shockers moving to 4-3 overall.
