AUBURN, Ala. – Despite out-hitting the No. 13 team in the country, the Wichita State softball team fell 2-0 to Auburn at Jane B. Moore Field on day one of the Plainsman Invite.

With only five combined hits between the teams, a pitchers' duel between junior transfer Bailey Lange and the Tigers' Makayla Martin began, with Lange striking out four batters through six innings in her debut as a Shocker.

Laurie Derrico, Mackenzie Wright and Madison Perrigan had a hit each for the Shockers with Derrico's single up the middle in the first increasing her run of hits and reaching base to six straight games dating back to last season.

The bottom of the first saw the only two runs in the game for Auburn. A leadoff walk followed by a triple to center field gave the Tigers a one run lead before another single to shortstop increased it to 2-0.

In the third, Wright singled to left center before a run of 21 straight outs between both teams finally ended in the bottom of the sixth when Lange walked Auburn's KK Crocker.

Ashton Esparza very nearly became the Shocker hero in the top of the seventh but her one out rocket to right field just dropped short and foul of the right field fence.

A ground out double play by Auburn finished the inning to give them its second win of the day and the season. The loss drops the Shockers to 0-1 and 4-3 in season openers under head coach Kristi Bredbenner.

Wichita State is back in action at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow when they face Tennessee Tech for the first time in program history.