STORRS, Conn. – The Wichita State softball team defeated the UConn Huskies, 8-2, in Storrs to hit the 20-win mark for the fifth consecutive year under head coach Kristi Bredbenner.

Ryleigh Buck and Mackenzie Wright led the bats, both going 2-for-3, with Buck batting in two runners and Wright one; Wright also got her 200th career hit in the victory.

It was Wright who led the game off with a single into right center. A groundout to the shortstop from Bailee Nickerson got her to second with an error on a Laurie Derrico hit into shallow right center getting runners to third and second. Buck's first career triple into right-center scored two runs.

An error on the leadoff Husky got a base runner to first but Caitlin Bingham got her first strikeout of the day followed by two ground outs to end the first inning.

She would be tested in the second with the Huskies loading the bases on a single, walk and fielder's choice. Bingham got the first batter swinging before a smart double play by Derrico got the final two with a line out to her at shortstop and a throw to Buck at first catching the runner off the bag to get out of the jam.

In the bottom of the third the Huskies cut the Shocker lead in half with a leadoff double and a single getting a runner home. A fielder's choice and two straight walks loaded the bases but a fly out to Palmer in left field got Bingham out of the inning.

Asea Webber led off the fourth with a single through the right side with Madison Perrigan's sac bunt moving her to second. A throwing error by the pitcher to first base got Palmer to second and Webber home. Wright then singled into right center, her 200th career hit, to get Palmer home and pushing the lead to 4-1.

Mckenzie Weber replaced Bingham in the bottom half, retiring the batters in order.

In the sixth, Perrigan led off with a walk, while Mauriana Jamele's pinch hit single into center field to get two on base. Ashton Esparza replaced Perrigan to run with Wright drawing a walk to load the bases. Nickerson then singled into right center to get both Esparza and Palmer, who had re-entered for Jamele, to home plate. Luellen then got her first hit of the series with a single into center field to get both Wright and Nickerson home and push the lead to 8-1.

UConn got one back in the bottom half. A single and a double got a Husky home with Bailey Klitzke then replacing Weber in the circle. A pop out to the shortstop, a ground out and fly out kept the Huskies from cutting further into the lead.

After the Shocker bats went three-up, three-down in the seventh, a leadoff walk saw Klitzke replaced by Bailey Lange who got the final three outs with a swinging strikeout and two straight ground outs.

Weber got the win (1-0) with the Shockers moving to 20-12 overall and 3-2 in The American, the win also gave Bredbenner her fifth consecutive 20-win season. The final game of the series is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. CT (12:00 p.m. ET) tomorrow and is live on Huskie Vision.