WICHITA Kan. – Laurie Derrico's three-run walk-off home run led the Wichita State softball team to an 11-1 run-rule victory over Memphis on Saturday afternoon at Wilkins Stadium.
It didn't take long for the Shocker bats to come alive. After a three-up, three-down for the Wichita State defense,
Bailee Nickerson drew a walk to get on base.
Paige Luellen also drew a walk in the next at-bat to get two on with
Ryleigh Buck singling down the right field line to get Nickerson home.
Caitlin Bingham struck a single right back up the middle in the first pitch of the next at-bat to get both Luellen and Buck home and make it 3-0 to Wichita State after the first inning.
Memphis got its first runner on base in the third on an error with a walk adding the second for Bingham and the Shocker defense's first test of the day. They passed the test with a smart tag out at second by
Kaylee Huecker getting the second out and a big throw from
Madison Perrigan to
Laurie Derrico catching a runner stealing for the third.
In the bottom half the Shockers added to their lead. Nickerson led off with a double to right field with Derrico singling through the right to get her home. Bingham drew a walk to get two on with
Asea Webber doubling to push the Shocker lead to 5-0.
The Tigers pulled a run back in the fifth through a series of walks and singles; a wild pitch eventually getting a Memphis runner home.
Bailey Klitzke came in for relief for the second straight game and got out of the jam with a pop up to first base.
In the bottom half, the Shockers tacked on two more. Lange led off with a single through the middle before getting caught stealing second. Wright then drew a walk before getting out on a fielder's choice from a Nickerson hit. Derrico then walked with Luellen singling to load the bases and Buck singling to get two home.
In the fifth inning, the Shockers ended the game in style. Lange reached on a fielder's choice with Wright singling to get two on. Nickerson singled to get Lange home before Derrico crushed a three-run home run to end the game via run-rule.
The Shockers move to 17-11 on the year and 1-1 in The American, with Bingham (2-3) getting the win. Wichita State and Memphis finish the series tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 11:00 a.m. live on Shocker HD.
