AUBURN, Ala. - The Wichita State softball team defeated Marshall 5-2 at the Auburn City Softball Complex behind strong performances from starting pitcher
Bailey Lange and senior
Morgan Palmer.
Lange threw all seven innings, her first complete game as a Shocker, striking out nine batters to get the win and move to 1-1 on the season. Palmer went 2-for-3 at the plate, driving in Lange twice with a single in the second and a double in the fourth.
But it was Marshall, receiving votes in the NFCA/USA Today Coaches Poll, who came out swinging early with a single, an error and another single getting a batter home to give the Thundering Herd an early 1-0 lead. In the second, Marshall loaded the bases but a key strikeout from Lange got the Shockers out of the jam.
From there the Wichita State batters came alive. Senior
Paige Luellen led off in the bottom of the second, crushing a solo home run to left field to tie the game. Lange singled to shortstop and stole second with
Cassidy Kelsheimer walking. Palmer singled to center field to bring Lange home and put the Shockers up 2-1.
In the bottom of the fourth
Laurie Derrico singled into center field with
Ryleigh Buck using a sac bunt to get her to third. Lange walked and again stole second before a pickoff attempt by the catcher on Lange allowed Derrico to get home. Palmer then doubled into the center field to get Lange round and give the Shockers a 4-1 lead.
A single to left field and a stolen base got a Marshall batter to second before a line out got them to third. An error allowed the runner to score to make it 4-2.
In the fifth
Madison Perrigan reached first on a fielder's choice bunt with
Asea Webber pinch running. Luellen and Derrico both drew walks to load the bases with Buck flying out to center field to get Webber home.
The Shockers had opportunities to add to the lead in the sixth by loading the bases, but a fly out ended the inning. Lange got the batters swinging with a fly out, a swinging strikeout and a foul out to shortstop to give the Shockers (2-1) a 5-2 win over Marshall (0-3).
Wichita State looks set to play Furman tomorrow and Tennessee Tech on Sunday with start times to be announced.
