AUSTIN, Texas – The Wichita State softball team fell on a two-out two-run walk-off home run for the second time this season after leading the No. 21 Ohio State Buckeyes until the last out of the game.
The Shockers started on offense with
Mackenzie Wright drawing a leadoff walk and advancing to second on a wild pitch.
Caitlin Bingham got the start in the circle, pitching 4.1 innings with four strikeouts.
In the second, Wichita State took the lead with Bingham reaching first on a throwing error before
Madison Perrigan stepped up with a double to deep right-center to get runners on third and second. Freshman
Mckenzie Weber, who earned her first start at right field, drew a walk to load the bases with a wild pitch getting Bingham home.
The Shockers made it 3-0 in the third with Buck leading off with a walk.
Asea Webber then reached second on an error by the center fielder with
Laurie Derrico's sac-fly to right field getting Buck home. Bingham then singled up the middle in the next at-bat to get
Asea Webber home.
After allowing a leadoff single in the first, Bingham retired seven straight before the Buckeyes second single of the day killed the streak in the third but two groundouts and a flyout kept Ohio State off the scoreboard.
She couldn't keep the Buckeyes away in the fourth with a two-run home run to right center cutting the Shockers' lead to 3-2.
Hailey Martinez took over in the circle in the fifth, pitching 1.1 innings and only allowing one hit with a strikeout. Lange took over in the sixth to try and get the save.
Morgan Palmer led off the seventh with a single to the pitcher with
Bailey Lange bunting to get her to second. Wright reached first on an error with Palmer moving to third before stealing second, the 45th of her career but the Shockers couldn't take advantage.
In the seventh, the nationally-ranked Buckeyes completed the comeback. After keeping last season's third team All-American Lilli Piper hitless, she struck with two outs and a runner on base. Her two-run walk-off homer giving the Buckeyes a 4-3 win.
Wichita State moves to 5-5 on the year with Lange getting the loss (3-3). The Shockers look to bounce back against tournament hosts Texas at 8:30 p.m. with the game broadcast live on the Longhorn Network.
